Vitantonio Liuzzi | AKA Tonio Liuzzi, Italian Formula 1 Driver

Vitantonio (Tonio) Liuzzi

Team: Force India
F1 Debut: 2005 - San Marino Grand Prix

Vitantonio (Tonio) Liuzzi is a driver with huge amount talent that is yet to reach his full potential. Tonio won the 2001 World Karting Title against the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and was heralded as a future World Champion when he continued his winning form in Formula 3000.

Liuzzi made his Grand Prix debut when Red Bull entered Formula One in 2005. Strangely, the team used a confusing three driver rotational system and this hurt Liuzzi's early development. The idea was that David Coulthard would drive one of the team's cars, whilst Christian Klien and Tonio would share the other. This plan worked against Liuzzi because he missed the first three races of the ‘05 season, and only had three races in the car before having to hand it back over to Klien. This meant he never had enough time to settle into the driving role and gain experience. Red Bull quickly recognised this was a difficult position for a rookie driver and subsequently gave the car to Klien for the rest of the year.

Liuzzi received a full time drive with Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2006, and despite showing very well against Sebastian Vettel, he was later dropped in favour of Sebastien Bourdais. Tonio then became Force India's test driver and was promoted into the race team last year when Giancarlo Fisichella moved to Ferrari. Again, it wasn't a perfect situation for Tonio but he fared well enough to be given a full-time drive in 2010. Liuzzi will be hoping the enormous talent he displayed in Karting and Formula 3000 will have the chance to shine through during a full season of Formula One.

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