Liuzzi vindicated by strong season start

The Italian has returned for a full season of F1 racing for the first time since 2007, having spent the past years as a test driver for Force India.

Liuzzi replaced Giancarlo Fisichella at the team in the latter part of last season and was confirmed as Adrian Sutil's team-mate for 2010.

The Force India driver has enjoyed a strong start to the year, having finished ninth in Bahrain and seventh in Australia, and he believes it shows he's back on form.

"I'm obviously really happy as it confirms what I said from the beginning of the year, that I am back and I am ready for big results as long as the car stays together and gives me the possibility," said Liuzzi.

"I had a really strong race when I came back in Monza last year, and we are scoring points now. I just want to give back as much as I can to the team because they believed in me."

Force India has put on its strongest start to a season yet, but Liuzzi has ruled out fighting with the top teams, and reckons Renault should be their target.

"Unfortunately to match Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren's speed is difficult for us, but the team is working really hard," he added.

"For us the main competitor at the beginning seemed to be Renault, but now they've made a big step forward. I think it will be our main target to try to catch them in Malaysia to beat them in the championship.

"For sure it won't be easy because they are a great team and they will develop. But we are working hard back at Silverstone, and working well."