Vitantonio Liuzzi thinks Force India can challenge for a podium finish in the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of the month.
But Italian admits Force India will struggle to match last year's Spa heroics
Vitantonio Liuzzi thinks Force India can challenge for a podium finish in the Belgian Grand Prix, although the Italian admits the team's heroics of last season might be difficult to match.
The Silverstone-based outfit made a major impression at Spa-Francorchamps last year when Giancarlo Fisichella claimed pole position before finishing second behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in the race.
Their success was largely down to the straightline speed of their car and although Liuzzi admits they don't enjoy such a strong advantage 12 months on, he still thinks they can give a strong performance.
"I think we will be again pretty competitive," Liuzzi told
Autosport. "To match last year I think it's difficult because last year was the first one with new rules, different cars, there was the KERS...
"I think now some teams have improved a lot in drag and in top speed, so I don't think we will have the advantage of last year, but I still believe that we are in good shape to aim for a podium."
Potential
Liuzzi achieved his best qualifying result of the season so far, a sixth place, at the Canadian Grand Prix, although his hopes of a strong race were dashed when he collided with Ferrari's Felipe Massa on the opening lap in Montreal.
Even so, he hopes the similaries between the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Spa bode well for the end of the month.
"We said at the beginning of the year we wanted to achieve a podium and I think we can fight for it. It's not easy, as the others are not sleeping in their development, but our car should be well suited to the track and we showed in Canada that we have really strong potential on that kind of circuit," Liuzzi added.
"I think in Canada without the problem with Felipe at the first corner we would have finished in the top five. So I'm confident that we can have an interesting weekend."
