Liuzzi was already looking

By Andrew Cutler
August 16 2007

Having seen the writing on the wall several months ago, Vitantonio Liuzzi wasn't passively waiting around to 'get the axe' from Scuderia Toro Rosso: his search for a new driving seat was already in full swing when the long-expected news finally came.

Tonio felt that his future with the team was in jepoardy as early as last winter when they began testing Sebastien Bourdais. Once STR's 'sister' team, Red Bull Racing, announced that their driver line-up would not change for 2008, he knew that his fate was sealed.

"I started to look around 2 months ago, since I decided not to return to Toro Rosso," he told Italiaracing.net. "Many contradictory episodes happened in 2007, so I wanted to move on. I'm talking with a couple of high-level teams, but I'm not mentioning their name. I'm also looking to the USA, more at ChampCar than IndyCar, but my main goal is to stay in Formula 1; I feel like I've a lot yet to prove."

"I'm working to be back racing in 2008, but a chance as a test driver won't be ruled out. It depends from the team; I'm talking with several major squads, in which a test role could be very pleasant. We'll see."

While former teammate Scott Speed enjoys a long-time relationship with the greater Red Bull racing organization, having come up through the F1 'ladder' as a member of the Driver's Search program, Liuzzi has a more independent relationship with the energy drink company. As such, he may not be able to count on them for sponsorship backing as he looks for a new job.

"I'd like to continue with Red Bull, that supported my career since 2001, and I owe a lot to Dieter Mateschitz for what he did for me," he added. "On the other hand, I've never been part of Red Bull's drivers development program, as mine was an hybrid situation. Peter Collins, my manager since my racing debut, found in Red Bull a financial support, but we are independent in making choices."