HRT refugee Vitantonio Liuzzi has re-emerged on the grid of the Italian-based touring car series Superstars.
Despite having a 2012 contract, the 30-year-old Italian lost his race seat at the struggling Spanish team HRT for this year to the well-backed Indian Narain Karthikeyan.

So, in 2012, he will race a Mercedes C63 AMG – which he tested last week at Monza – in the Maurizio Flammini-organised Superstars series.

Also on the grid will be former F1 drivers Christian Fittipaldi, Mika Salo, Gianni Morbidelli and Johnny Herbert.

“I’m persuaded that Superstars is a great choice to open yourself to other categories than F1,” said Liuzzi.

The season begins in April at Monza, then moving on to Imola, Donington, Mugello, the Hungaroring, Spa, Portimao, Vallelunga and Sentul (Indonesia).

Since 2005, Liuzzi also raced in F1 with Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Force India.

All the hard work has finally paid off today as the F112, the car with which HRT Formula 1 Team will compete this season, completed its first laps at the Circuit de Catalunya, in Barcelona.

Since the car passed the last crash test and was homologated, the team has carried out work shifts to cover 24 hours a day to make sure it could make it, for the first time in its history, to the first Grand Prix of the season having run previously.

The car was able to run after the team took advantage of one of the filming days available during the season.

The car made it to the circuit from Munich, Germany, just after one in the afternoon and the mechanics and engineers got straight down to business, working on relevant adjustments. It was a combined team effort, working against the clock, which saw its rewards four hours later when Narain Karthikeyan led the car out onto the track. Pedro de la Rosa, Dani Clos and Tonio Liuzzi were also present, as were Carlos Gracia, President of the Spanish Motorsports Federation and Salvador Servià, General Director of the Circuit de Catalunya.

The tests were carried out without any setbacks and the car carried out over ten laps. The team was able to check that the car functioned properly both from a mechanical and aerodynamic point of view as from a systems standpoint.

The team will prepare the necessary material in the upcoming days and head down under for the first Grand Prix of the season which will take place at Melbourne, Australia, in just two weeks.

Narain Karthikeyan: “Today was a shakedown of the F112 and I have had the honour to be the first driver to test it. The first impressions are quite good; it’s definitely a step up from last year. We couldn’t do any set-up work or stuff like that but everything seems to be working fine and there are no major problems so we can look forward to the season now. Everyone has worked hard and the new team management has put everything together in a very short period of time. They’ve done a proper job with the car and I’m sure that it’s a big step forward from last year, so hopefully we can take the competition to the teams we were fighting last year”.

Pedro de la Rosa: “Today has been a very special day because the car saw the light for the first time; Narain did some installation laps and then various times laps without any issues. This is very important, it might not seem like it, but any sort of mileage before Australia is vital to see that the car is in good conditions. From here it is our job to try and improve it and make it progress”.

Luis Péres-Sala, Team Principal: “I’m very satisfied today as it is a very important day for us because we were able to test some things out with the new car during this filming day. I’m very proud of each and every member of this team because everyone has contributed their little bit for this to be possible. Now we have to focus on Australia because we still have a lot ahead”.

The Italian press has pointed the finger at Vitaly Petrov’s “rubles” as Jarno Trulli races out of formula one.
With Vitantonio Liuzzi replaced at HRT by Narain Karthikeyan, and veteran Trulli ousted at Caterham by Petrov, F1 history enters a new phase as Italy no longer has a single driver on the grid.

“If you look,” said former grand prix winner Riccardo Patrese to La Stampa, “the drivers coming in now are from central America and the East.”

The unsponsored Trulli, 37, said he still wants to race but also has his wine and hotel businesses to keep him busy.

“More than anything else, apart from the results, I am proud to have been able to fulfil my dream of racing in F1 for many years and stay on the grid on my own power, without anybody’s help,” he is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Switzerland’s Blick newspaper points out that no fewer than 81 Italian drivers have raced in the modern F1 championship.

And Brazilian correspondent Livio Oricchio reminded that in 1989, no fewer than 16 drivers in the field were Italian.

Some Italian fans are pointing the finger at Ferrari, annoyed that the famous marque has not signed a full-time Italian race driver for many years.

And why Felipe Massa? “Because we believe in him,” an official of the Maranello based team is quoted by Spain’s Marca newspaper.

“It’s not enough to have an Italian passport to drive for Ferrari,” he added.

HRT on Saturday announced that it will be Vitantonio Liuzzi who sits out next weekend’s Indian grand prix.
The Spanish team had already said Indian Narain Karthikeyan would return to the grid for his country’s inaugural formula one race.

It was believed that Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who earlier this year replaced Karthikeyan due to a deal struck between HRT and Red Bull, would sit out India.

Liuzzi’s manager said in September that the Italian has a firm contract for every race in 2011, with Ricciardo conceding that “at least I will be driving in the practice session”.

But HRT announced on Saturday: “Daniel Ricciardo will pair with the 34-year-old Indian driver for this single event.”

Team boss Colin Kolles explained: “I have asked Tonio Liuzzi to step aside for the Indian GP in order to allow driving programmes with Ricciardo and Karthikeyan to be completed.

“I have to thank Tonio for his professional approach and attitude.”

Daniel Ricciardo is not relaxed about his future in formula one.
Recently seen as the natural successor to his countryman Mark Webber at Red Bull, the 22-year-old Australian has struggled to get up to speed with Vitantonio Liuzzi after replacing Narain Karthikeyan at HRT earlier this year.

The move was funded by his backers Red Bull but Ricciardo is contracted to the energy drinks company only to the end of 2011.

With Sebastien Buemi, Jaime Alguersuari and Jean-Eric Vergne all also in the running for Red Bull’s junior seats at Toro Rosso, the West Australian newspaper concludes that Ricciardo’s future is clouded.

“I’ve got the next few races,” said the upbeat Ricciardo on Saturday, when it was announced his teammate Liuzzi will sit out India next weekend to make way for Karthikeyan’s one-off return.

“They (the last three races) still play a part for next year, so for me it’s important to stay focused on those and not watch what the other guys are doing and what I’m doing too much off the track.

“I’ll be very disappointed if I don’t have a place next year, but it’s one of those things,” he continued.

“There’s only limited space. I think obviously having Red Bull and hopefully impressing them enough this year, they’ll continue and put me in somewhere.”

Daniel Ricciardo joked to a Spanish reporter that he did more interviews on Thursday than in his entire life until that point.

The Red Bull-backed rookie is making his grand prix debut this weekend, causing some commentators to hurriedly wonder why Australian media generally pronounce his surname ‘Rickardo’.

“I guess that growing up in Australia, to try and get people to say it as the Italians would, to roll the r and give it the expression, it doesn’t really come out the same way,” said HRT’s new race driver.

“In Italy, as my father is Sicilian, they will say Ricciardo or however an Italian would say it, probably. I guess the Italians are more than welcome to say it how it probably is meant to be said.”

Arguably a bigger concern for Ricciardo is – having never driven the 2011 Hispania previously – satisfying the 107 per cent rule on Saturday with a car that failed to qualify in Melbourne.

“I don’t expect it to be the Red Bull that I drove in Abu Dhabi for the junior tests, but Tonio (Liuzzi) has done a good job this year so if he’s able to qualify then I hope I can too,” he answered.

“It (not qualifying) hasn’t even crossed my mind.”

Nick Heidfeld has been selected to drive in injured Robert Kubica’s place this season, according to a German report.

Lotus-sponsored Renault has already announced that German Heidfeld, 33, will be testing at Jerez this weekend, but only as “a potential replacement” for car number 9.

But the German newspaper Bild-Zeitung claims grand prix veteran Heidfeld will also be racing in March and beyond.

The newspaper said he has had a seat fitting for the R31 at Enstone.

A Renault source told Bild: “(Vitaly) Petrov is relatively inexperienced. In order to exhaust the full potential of the car, we definitely need a strong and experienced man.

“And the team has already been talking with Heidfeld in the past years,” added the source.

Indeed, Heidfeld was a contender for the race seat alongside Kubica this year, as Renault earlier considered ousting Petrov.

But for the moment, Renault is not confirming the news.

A spokesman told DPA news agency that it would be “inappropriate” to take a decision “while Kubica is still in intensive care”.

And it is still rumoured that Tonio Liuzzi could be called up for an evaluation for the Barcelona test.

“We must wait for the Jerez tests now, and thankfully the Barcelona ones too,” confirmed team owner Gerard Lopez.

Referring to Heidfeld specifically, he added: “We all know that Nick is rather good, but we don’t know what level he is in now, we don’t know how he does with our car.

“Same goes for Vitantonio Liuzzi, same goes – I don’t know – for Bruno Senna, who last year was in a team with a car that could do nothing,” said Lopez.

Nico Hulkenberg’s manager Willi Weber, however, is convinced: “Nick Heidfeld is going to race,” he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

Nick Heidfeld’s manager on Tuesday refused to confirm speculation the German driver is a candidate to replace the injured Robert Kubica in 2011.

Vitaly Petrov, after visiting his regular Polish teammate in hospital, named veteran Heidfeld alongside Bruno Senna and Tonio Liuzzi as the leading contenders to race in Kubica’s place this year.

“With respect for Robert, we believe it is currently not appropriate to speculate,” Heidfeld’s manager Andre Theuerzeit told the German news agency SID.

33-year-old German Heidfeld, with more than 170 grands prix under his belt, was Kubica’s teammate at BMW between 2006 and 2009.

Michael Schumacher is a “tragic ex-hero” who should return immediately to retirement.

That is the view of Mika Hakkinen, who was once named as the only rival the seven time world champion truly feared.

The Finn has issued a harsh critique of Schumacher in a column for the Munich newspaper TZ, despite the pair always referring to each other with the greatest of respect.

“Michael is for me now a tragic ex-hero,” 42-year-old Hakkinen wrote after the final race of Schumacher’s comeback year; the only full season in the German’s entire career that did not net even a single podium.

“I ask myself why on earth he got back into the cockpit. There is the most successful man in motor sport driving down in the pack and making a ridiculous mistake in Abu Dhabi that almost cost him his life,” he added.

Hakkinen is referring to his spin on the first lap that resulted in Tonio Liuzzi’s Force India riding over Schumacher’s Mercedes and almost striking his head.

Afterwards, Schumacher admitted the incident gave him a fright and a trip to the medical centre, but has pledged to return in 2011.

But “What a tragedy this would have been for the Germans — and on the day of Vettel’s triumph,” said Hakkinen.

“What has the man who has won more than anyone else still to prove?” Hakkinen wondered. “In my view, he is dismantling his own legacy bit by bit.

“And I see it making no difference whether it is for technical reasons or because he can no longer keep up with the boys.”

Hakkinen said he can understand Schumacher’s urge to return to action after three years of retirement.

“After three years I returned to the cockpit myself — for Mercedes in the DTM,” he recalled. “And I also had to recognise that even as a formula one world champion, there are no gifts for the older ones.

“I won only three times more,” said Hakkinen.

“You can neither stop the wheel of time, nor turn it back,” he insisted.

“Personally, we were never close friends because he always came across, to me anyway, a little bit too arrogant.”

Adrian Sutil on Thursday confirmed reports he looks set to stay another season with Force India in 2011.

The German had flirted with moves to Renault or Williams but admitted at Interlagos that he is now leaning towards signing a new deal with his long-time employer.

“The tendency is to (stay at) Force India,” Sutil is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

“We are currently in close talks. I am definitely ready to stay here for another year. The trend is with this team, but it’s not signed yet,” he added.

Sutil said it will take at least another two weeks before the deal is sealed.

“The final decision won’t be made until after the season unfortunately,” he revealed. “I would have wanted it sooner, but it didn’t happen.”

The news is a blow for Nick Heidfeld, who had hoped to move to Force India. The Silverstone based team already has a contract for 2011 with Vitantonio Liuzzi.

“If Sutil is staying there, probably I have no chance with Force India,” confirmed Heidfeld, who is being replaced at Sauber by the Telmex-backed rookie Sergio Perez.

There might be a vacancy at Renault, but the Enstone based team is thought likely to re-sign its well-funded Vitaly Petrov.

Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg’s place at Williams is under threat by the Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, who is backed by state petroleum company PDVSA.

Sir Frank Williams last week spoke highly of Hulkenberg, but the young German pointed out that “with praise I can buy nothing”.

“Williams have told me that there is still a chance (of staying in 2011),” added Hulkenberg.

He is disappointed at the thought of being ousted by his GP2 teammate of 2009.

“In qualifying, I beat him I think 10-0,” noted Hulkenberg.

Allan McNish is confident that Paul di Resta will get a place in Formula 1. Only the political game must play the Scot well.
As the replacement and occasional Friday driver for Force India Paul di Resta has already one foot in Formula 1, the last step is still missing, and many believe that to follow the Scot Tonio Liuzzi as a race driver with Force India will be. But nothing is certain yet, but the former Formula 1 driver Allan McNish believes his compatriot will do it, he should have the political side of the elite class under control.

“If you look at the error looks to have made the Sutil and Liuzzi in the last race, one might say, Paul has good arguments to out there are. Unfortunately, there is much politics in the motor sport and Formula 1 is now completely on the top, it is not about the drivers’ performance. But I hope that Paul will be classified soon in the list of the Scots in Formula 1, “said McNish, the Daily Record.
TMS

Renault and Force India have emerged as the most likely teams to keep Nick Heidfeld’s formula one career alive beyond 2010.

Although returning from Mercedes and Pirelli test roles to complete the current season with Sauber, Heidfeld has not been signed for next season by the Swiss team, who are instead pitting the Telmex-backed rookie Sergio Perez alongside Kamui Kobayashi.

But veteran Heidfeld, revealing in Korea this week that he does not carry any personal sponsorship, has emerged as a candidate to replace the disappointing Russian pay-driver Vitaly Petrov at Renault.

Team boss Eric Boullier, suggesting that a decision could be made by Abu Dhabi next month, told Auto Motor und Sport: “Both Heidfeld and Sutil have a chance.”

Renault’s thinking is that, with a good driver alongside Robert Kubica this year, the team might have beaten Mercedes to fourth place in the constructors’ championship — with prize-money arguably beyond even Petrov’s impressive dowry.

Adrian Sutil, with a solid offer to stay at Force India, is also an interesting candidate, especially with his EUR5 million in Medion sponsorship to offer.

The good news for Heidfeld is that Sutil is also in the running for the Williams seat, and his departure to either Renault or Williams would free up the place at Force India.

“That place is only free if Sutil goes,” Heidfeld confirmed.

And if Sutil does go, the 33-year-old German must be a strong contender.

“It is hardly conceivable that Force India will go into 2011 with Vitantonio Liuzzi next to Paul di Resta — one a newcomer and another who has been disappointing,” said the German media report.

Narain Karthikeyan has emerged as a contender to race with the Force India team in 2011.

Before Karun Chandhok made his debut in 2010, 33-year-old Karthikeyan was India’s first grand prix driver, contesting the full 2005 season with Jordan.

The Silverstone based team has since been re-branded as Midland, Spyker and is now Force India, headed by the Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya.

Force India’s current driver lineup is reportedly not secure for 2011, with Adrian Sutil eyeing a move to a bigger team, Vitantonio Liuzzi struggling to keep up with his German teammate, and reserve driver Paul di Resta thought likely to move into a race cockpit.

And the latest rumours from Italy, including a report in Autosprint magazine, is that Karthikeyan is a possibility for 2011.

It is suggested his sponsors have up to $8 million in total to spend on the seat, including Mumbai-based Tata Motors who are thought keen to associate with next year’s inaugural Indian grand prix.

On his visit this week to the Delhi site of next year’s race, Bernie Ecclestone said he hoped there would be an Indian driver on the grid.

“If an Indian driver is in Vijay’s team or a good team it will be superb,” he said.

Vitaly Petrov will move five places down the inaugural Korean GP grid in two weeks.

FIA stewards decided to penalise the Russian rookie for crashing into Williams’ Nico Hulkenberg before the first corner of Sunday’s Japanese race at Suzuka.

Hulkenberg had a bad start and was passed by the Renault, who hit the German’s front wheel by turning back onto the racing line too soon.

Petrov argued that he moved too soon to avoid Nick Heidfeld, but the stewards announced that he had “caused a collision”.

Also investigated by the stewards at Suzuka was Felipe Massa’s first corner crash, when he lost control on the inside grass and took out the Force India of Vitantonio Liuzzi.

“He seemed to come into my side like a bullet,” said Liuzzi.

The FIA officials, however, took no action.

Lewis Hamilton took the lead of the world championship from Mark Webber on Sunday, by beating the Australian to victory at slippery Spa-Francorchamps.

As the fickle Belgian Ardennes continued to produce changeable weather conditions, the mere 20-point gap that had separated the top five title chargers blew out to more than 40.

One big loser on Sunday was Fernando Alonso, initially taken out by Rubens Barrichello at the start of the race before crashing on his own at the end.

Also now a long way behind in the championship – 35 points – is Jenson Button, who was innocently taken out by Sebastian Vettel as the Red Bull charger lost control during an overtaking attempt.

“It’s a massive blow — a massive blow,” Button said on BBC television, shortly before Vettel said “sorry” in his own media scrum.

There is clearly no love lost between the drivers’ management, with McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh admitting he thinks Vettel “got off lightly” with a drive-through penalty.

Red Bull’s Christian Horner naturally adjudged the penalty “a bit too hard”.

“What else can you give him?” said Button.  “It was a racing incident, he didn’t do it on purpose.”

Horner added: “You need to take into account the difficult weather conditions and that Jenson braked early.”

Vettel, scoring no points at Spa and now 31 points behind his teammate, also had to serve extra pitlane time after cutting a tyre on Tonio Liuzzi’s Force India.

“Everything that could go wrong for Sebastian went wrong today,” boss Horner told German Sky television.

In the sister Red Bull, Webber’s second place on Sunday leaves him just 3 points adrift Hamilton and well clear of the next challenger.

He intimated to reporters that the team might now be wise to back him for the last six races of 2010.

“It depends how hungry they are,” he said.

But Horner said: “It’s too early for that.  Sebastian is still in it.  We have seen already how quickly the tide can turn.”