CK with 3 - Liuzzi up next!

By John Sharpe
April 5 2005

I wasn’t surprised when Ian published the news that Vitantonio Liuzzi was to replace Christian Klien at the San Marino Grand Prix. Swirling in my head was the inevitable finally coming to light I sat and wondered what must be going through the mind of CK as he was told the news.

He knew like all of us that the message would be coming- and like all of us, I am almost sure he had hoped that the messenger would have gotten lost when the time came to deliver the news.
In our Racing Bulls fan site poll, 75% of the fans favored keeping CK in his race seat. That number is staggering considering two things. We have only completed three races thus far and unlike other teams, we have two fast and competent young racers in both CK and Liuzzi waiting to prove their worth.

Christian does have more race experience, having driven the Jaguar last year, but we are just now beginning to see his full potential as a true charger. His race drive in Malaysia demonstrated his ability to push hard as DC often got an eyeful of the young Austrian in his mirrors. When he was able to take the final points paying position, holding onto eighth while Kimi Raikkonen fought to take it away, I was jumping with excitement. Great composure and maturity was displayed that day. I was to say the least - impressed.
In Bahrain, CK out qualified DC with “Klien” like precision during both sessions to net 7th on the grid for the race. Again, I wondered what might be going through his head as he replayed the events this past Sunday and pondered the “what ifs.”
Electronics had let him down while sitting on the grid. Did CK realize at that moment Liuzzi might be sitting in that RB1 when the team arrives at Imola? No matter how you look at it, an opportunity was spoiled, though no fault of his own. Up until that second he had proven all he could – for now.

Christian Horner must be feeling like a father having to choose between two precocious young boys. Which one was more deserving of a full-time race seat? The situation he now employs is one that many team bosses would envy. When Dietrich Mateschitz created the Red Bull Drivers Search Program and Red Bull Junior team, little did anyone know that he was developing a tidal pool full of young fish eagerly waiting to become full grown – hungry sharks in the ocean? Which one will it be? Stick with Klien or give Liuzzi his shot as promised.



For the last three grand prix weekends Vitantonio Liuzzi has been auditioning for his chance to race the RB1 at Imola. As the team’s third driver, the lap times Liuzzi was producing were enough to have the paddock talking. Just how fast is this Italian? We all know of his exploits regarding his “female following” and of his total domination of the 2004 F3000 season with Arden. He commanded the attention of those in the paddock when in 2003 he made the jump to F3000 and finished fourth in the series with six top five finishes. Oh yeah, he also took the pole in Hungary as well as finishing second in Germany.
In Melbourne during Friday testing, Liuzzi led the field in the first session with a time of 1m 25.967. He was nearly half a second quicker than Pedro de la Rosa in the Mclaren. In Malaysia, again Liuzzi put his potential on display with a third best lap time of 1m 35.691 during the first session. Bahrain was no different once again as Liuzzi held onto third in both testing sessions securing a 1m 32.509 and a 1m 32.319.
Over the course of three gp weekends, Liuzzi has held a position in the top three of the timing sheets. His company in that grouping – Alex Wurz and Pedro de la Rosa of Mclaren, Ricardo Zonta with Toyota and Michael Schumacher. What’s so intriguing about this is that Wurz, de la Rosa, and Zonta are all testers as is Liuzzi. With that said, they are more than likely running their engines with little or no rev restrictions - meaning that they can achieve the maximum revs called upon during a lap. That makes Liuzzi’s pace along with the RB1 phenomenal.

Like most Italian drives, Liuzzi exudes the confidence needed to wrestle a grand prix car. However, he also has the swagger and the internal belief that he not only deserves to be in Formula One, he has what it takes to win. I don’t want to confuse you though, Liuzzi is confident and aggressive, but he is also laid back – the man is as cool as sipping Limonchello on a warm coastal Mediterranean summer.
At Imola, Liuzzi will have his chance to show what the rest of the F1 fraternity already know, just how fast he is. More importantly though it gives himself an opportunity to see how well he matches up with a full grid.

Still again, I find myself now starring at can of Red Bull on my desk and trying desperately to place my feet into the enormous shoes that Christian Horner has to occupy. Why didn’t RBR go the route that Williams did and have a shoot between Klien and Liuzzi? Wouldn’t that have made for a better solution? Surely it would not have upset the balance and Rhythm of CK and his outstanding performance thus far or that of RBR.
Perhaps the answer lies in the area of immediate experience. Though both Williams drivers Pizzonia and Heidfeld have GP experience, Liuzzi has yet to start his first race and Klien, as stated before, is coming into his own within the team. The critical thinking behind the RBR boss’ is this – Why not let them have a shoot out in race conditions. Its one thing to decide on an empty track, but to do it when the pressure is really on, i.e.; race conditions, then the true measure can be found.
I agree that making the first switch after only three races might seem a bit early, but that isn’t my decision to make. I can only subscribe to my own opinion.
Why not give each driver half the number of the total races this year and see where they finish after the season - taking into account mechanical failures, driver retirements as well cars passed, points and podiums. Why upset the Rhythm? Sometimes that is all that the driver has – the notion that everything is a continuous cycle and it is within that circle where the driver connects with his immediate environment, becoming one with it.
I do believe though hat the method that Red Bull Racing is utilizing to test their young talent is a good one.

Next year is fast approaching and in F1 everything moves fast and continuous. Nothing is also certain and with the silly season soon to be under way driver swaps and engine deals will be the talk during the next six months. For Red Bull Racing, being able to have a driver line up in place before the start of next season is crucial. It alleviates the pressure and the uncertainty of hastily made decisions – especially at the expense of RBR as a team.
If David Coulthard indeed decides to stay with RBR he will need to have not only a full time second driver alongside of him but also a fast one that is going to push him and the team into the points consistently.

I have seen and read a great deal of comments regarding what is perceived as being an unfair position for CK. We all must remember, this is not a demotion. It is simply what it was intended to be - a drivers search within the RBR team. Both Liuzzi and Klien have an equal opportunity to shine and prove that they belong in the RB1 on Sundays. With each of them racing with and against DC and the rest of the grid, RBR will be able to properly evaluate each drivers full potential and where they fit within the team. The worst that can happen out of all this is one of them not driving for Red Bull next year - but rather for another team.

It shouldn’t make any difference who is driving the other RB1 at Imola or any other GP, only that they are the best available driver to the team. Red Bull Racing has an abundance of great young talent and we should be supporting all of their efforts regardless if they continue to drive for RBR.
Christian Klien isn’t going anywhere just yet as with Liuzzi. I am excited at the prospect that their little shootout will lead to some interesting drama during the rest of the season. We all should!

Good luck Tonio –
I am sure Christian will be waiting anxiously for his second stint.

John Sharpe
www.racingbulls.co.uk
John.Sharpe@racingbulls.co.uk