Vitantonio Liuzzi has said that his Force India expect to be competitive at Spa at the end of the month, although he acknowledged any repeat of last year’s heroics would be unlikely.
In 2009 Giancarlo Fisichella led the team to their best ever result, finishing second after having started on pole position.
Liuzzi, who graduated to a race seat for this season, is optimistic that the Silverstone-based outfit can have a good weekend again this season.
“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.”
Liuzzi, who has been fighting for his seat after the strong showings by current test driver Paul di Resta, said he would have been on the podium in Canada if it had not been for a collision with Felipe Massa.
He added that he thought third place was a realistic possibility again in the remaining races.
“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.
“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.”
