Vitantonio ‘Tonio’ Liuzzi is an ‘old-new’ face in the Formula One paddock. The more observant among you will recognise him from his stint at Red Bull Racing in their birth year of 2005, when he seat-hopped with number two driver Christian Klien for the early part of the season.

Many thought that scoring a point on his debut – at his home Grand Prix at Imola, nonetheless – would be enough to gift him the race seat for the remainder of the season. But it was not to be for the chirpy Italian. Drives followed at Spain, Monaco and the Nurburgring, but that was all Red Bull could offer him.

For 2006, Liuzzi was drafted out to new Red Bull ‘B’ team, Scuderia Toro Rosso, following their purchase of the rather old and decrepit Minardi outfit. With their factory remaining at Faenza, a quick young Italian driver was just the prize they were looking for. Unfortunately, only a handful of points followed before he was dropped at the end of 2007 in favour of ChampCar ace Sebastien Bourdais.

But, unlike many of his fellow racers, he didn’t simply disappear into obscurity. Keeping a foot firmly in the door as Force India’s reserve driver, Tonio made no secret of the fact that he wanted to race again. And soon. He was eager to prove that here was too good a driver to waste – if only he could get the opportunity.

And it came, in the most unforeseen of circumstances. When Felipe Massa crashed so horribly at the Hungaroring last summer, his natural successor was Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer. But the veteran driver was painfully slow, qualifying last on his return to the grid and snaking around like a somewhat confused snail. It was a big ask, considering his 10-year absence from Formula One racing, and the decision was made to poach Giancarlo Fisichella from his comfortable mid-field position at Force India.

What greater opportunity was going to come Liuzzi’s way? On with the overalls and into the cockpit, and back out there to prove his mettle among the cream of the racing world. The driver once hailed as the next world champion almost bagged that elusive first podium in his Monza comeback, but a failure for Force India left him disappointed. He struggled with the car on unfamiliar circuits such as Valencia, but the team was nonetheless happy with his performance, and a 2010 contract headed his way.

He was the final Formula 3000 champion back in 2004, winning all but three of the ten rounds of the season. It’s no surprise that he’s been labelled as the ‘next Schumacher’ at some point in his flourishing early career. But it’s time to start delivering on the F1 stage, which isn’t going to be easy at a team like Force India.

For starters, he’s got the more experienced Sutil to beat. The German is entering his fourth season with Vijay Mallya’s outfit, and there’s no doubt he knows the ropes inside out by now. Tonio’s got his work cut out if he wants to climb up the F1 ladder. But he’s personable and positive, and that makes a refreshing change in the crazy whirlwind of Formula One.

Join me and Victoria on Formula1FanCast.com’s Fantasy League Formula 1 2010. Our league is called Formula1Fancast.com and the league pin is 722. Try and beat us if you can, but be warned we’re good!

Related posts: