Formula One news
Toro Rosso off the mark but rues lost podium
30 September 2007 / Results / PhotosTonio Liuzzi took Scuderia Toro Rosso's first point of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix where he finished eighth, but the team was on for a podium result with Vettel until the German ran into the back of Mark Webber in the final safety car period.
"It was a great race with 67 laps of pure tension because we were aquaplaning all race long," Liuzzi said. "I drove well, especially given that I had qualified badly, after choosing a set-up with little downforce. Therefore, given the conditions this afternoon, I chose to start from the pit lane in the T car that was set up for the wet. In the end, I managed to score a point which is really a boost for the whole team. Conditions were definitely critical for everyone, but we are drivers and it is our job to race and in any case, this is a very safe track."
Sebastian Vettel commented, "I made a good start and the race was going well. Then, with the final safety car, I was behind Lewis and Mark and exiting Turn 13, I looked to the right and saw Lewis going really slowly, I don't know why, but I thought he had a problem. Probably he was heating his brakes. Then, by the time I looked forward again, I was already in the back of Mark's car and I think he had also reacted to Lewis. I apologise now to Mark because I ruined both our races."
Team manager Franz Tost added, "Let's start with the positives: Tonio scored our first point of the season today. Because of the weather, we switched him to the T car set up for wet conditions. He put in a good performance but the advantage gained from the wet set up car was lost at his pit stop that came at exactly the wrong moment because of the safety car. Sebastian also showed what he could do. He made a very good start moving up to third and was almost able to match the pace of the McLarens. He came into the pits 3.3 seconds ahead of Webber. After the pit stop he continued to put in quick laps but after the safety car came out again, unfortunately he crashed into Mark Webber which was the end of the race for both of them. Until then, it had been an impressive performance and the mistake is one that can also happen with more experienced drivers. I continue to look forward to working with him in the future. Of course, we are unhappy about the incident, especially as it happened under the safety car and especially as it happened with a Red Bull car. They could have finished second and third, but that's part of the game, that's racing."
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