Formula One news

Liuzzi forecasting better results

Vitantonio Liuzzi believes that Force India will be in better shape at Suzuka this weekend than they were in Singapore last time out. Following two stunning races for the Indian squad at Spa and Monza, the Italian and team-mate Adrian Sutil slipped back down the order in Marina Bay's night race.

Tonio was the sole Force India finisher in Singapore

With the two previous, unique circuits having allowed Giancarlo Fisichella to chase Kimi Räikkönen's Ferrari to victory in Belgium and Sutil having done the same in the battle for third place in Italy, a result of 14th and one retirement was highly disappointing for the Silverstone outfit at the high-downforce Singapore track.

"It was a really tough weekend for us," Tonio admitted, having made his F1 comeback in Italy after a 23-month absence. "We could aim for a top position in Monza and in Singapore we had to wake up - there was no passing into Q3, with either car. I had a lot of problems with oversteer in qualifying and I lost a lot in the last four corners, otherwise I should have been really close to Adrian.

"We've struggled with such high downforce levels since the beginning of the year and a lot of teams brought big updates for this configuration; that's why we had a lot of problems and we were never so competitive but for us it was good to finish the race. For sure, it's the most physical race of the year, so it was good for me to complete 61 laps - it was important to get myself back to speed and back to (a good) physical condition."

Liuzzi's Marina Bay result of 14th matched that of Japan 2006 for Toro Rosso

Currently 8 points behind BMW for eighth in the Constructors' Championship, does Liuzzi believe an advance up the order is possible? "I think, for Suzuka, we will be in better shape," he continued. "I think we are getting close to my optimum speed. Now I think we are ready for Suzuka. I've been there once, in 2006, and it's a circuit I like. I'm more optimistic for there because the configuration for our car is somewhere in between Spa and Singapore, so we should be more competitive."

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