Liuzzi downplays Willis's exit from HRT

Willis is no longer working for HRT, with former Honda/Brawn deputy technical director Jorg Zander expected to be confirmed as his successor.

But despite this change, Liuzzi has no doubts that HRT's aspirations to establish itself as a competitive Formula 1 team will be realised.

"It's a shame that we lost Geoff because I was working well with him," Liuzzi told AUTOSPORT. "But the team principal [Colin Kolles] has got a clear picture in his head and I am confident that it is the right plan.

"We still don't know much about how the future will be handled, but I'm very confident that Mr Kolles is putting together a good package for the future.

"This is a circus where people come and go pretty quickly, it's the same for drivers and for engineers. I'm sure that the team is facing a brighter future."

The Italian, who is hopeful of staying with the team for a second season in 2012, is also impressed with team owner Thesan Capital's plans, which he expects will allow HRT to make a stride forward next year.

"The new owners have strong ideas about the future, so that makes me feel positive," said Liuzzi. "Because it is always better to have owners that want to invest and push the team forward.

"The biggest step needs to be made next year and we will still do it, but with a different [technical] package."