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In 2009 he recorded his best-ever F1 finish of fourth at the Italian Grand Prix, also securing his first front row start.
Tonio retains his race seat following his move up from the team’s test and reserve driver role at Monza this year. The 28-year-old Italian made his race debut in 2005 with Red Bull Racing and moved to Toro Rosso for 2006 and 2007. In 2008 he became Force India’s third driver.
Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal, commented, ‘We are very pleased to retain the services of both Adrian and Tonio for another season. We have always maintained that consistency is key at this stage in the team’s development and for the first time in many years we will have the continuity of not only the same drivers, but also the same engine and senior management. With this stability now in place I truly believe we have an excellent platform to build on and move forward on our strong 2009 performance. I am sure we have one of the most dynamic line-ups on the grid and I hope this will stand us in good stead in what we all hope will be a transitional year for the team.’
Adrian added, ‘2010 will be my fourth consecutive year with the team. I feel good here, it feels like family, and when you feel at ease you can focus your energy 100% on getting it right on track. Next season I want to be in the points on a regular basis, maybe even challenging for the podium, and the team has exactly the same goals. We are going massively in the right direction so with our combined energies I’m confident we can achieve even more than last season.’
Tonio said, ‘It was always my goal to be back racing in 2010 and I’ve finally achieved it. I feel the five races I did in 2009 were a bit of a warm-up; get back racing, learn the car, get the feeling back. Now I’ve done that I feel ready to really push next season. We were pretty strong in the last part of the 2009 season so if we pick up where we stopped I think we could be in for a good year. For sure points are the aim and showing everyone what we can do.’
An announcement regarding the third driver will be made in the weeks following the young driver test.
Quick Adrian Sutil facts
- Adrian made his F1 debut in 2006, driving the Midland in Friday free practice at the European, French and Japanese Grands Prix. His race debut came at the 2007 Australian Grand Prix and he achieved his first world championship points in Japan later that year. Despite a frustrating 2008 Adrian featured strongly in 2009, securing his first-ever front row start at the Italian Grand Prix and also the fastest lap of the race. To date he has scored six world championship points
- Adrian was the 2006 Japanese F3 champion and also finished second to Lewis Hamilton in the 2005 F3 Euroseries
- Born in southern Germany, Adrian has South American roots on his father’s side but now lives in Switzerland
Quick Tonio Liuzzi facts
- Tonio Liuzzi was Force India’s test and reserve driver from 2008 until the 2009 Italian Grand Prix when he stepped up to replace Giancarlo Fisichella, who had departed to Ferrari. He qualified an outstanding seventh on the grid and was in a points-scoring position until a mechanical failure caused his retirement
- Tonio made his F1 debut in 2005 at the San Marino Grand Prix with Red Bull Racing. He scored a point on this debut although competed in just three more races that year before making a permanent switch to Toro Rosso in 2006, where he remained for the 2007 season
- Tonio holds the joint record for the most F3000 wins in one season; seven out of a possible ten in 2004, his championship-winning year. The Italian holds the record with Juan Pablo Montoya and Nick Heidfeld
- Tonio has also held the FIA-CIK World Karting Championship title, which he won in 2001
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