Liuzzi welcomes first point for Toro Rosso

"That's great - we've come close before but now we've got the team's first point," said the Italian after finishing eighth out of the nine finishers. "We can go forward from now on, looking for more points.

"At first I was worried for Scott, because I thought he might have been hurt, until the team told me he was fine.

"Then I was racing with Coulthard, but he was a bit quicker than me in the second stint. We are on fire now. Hopefully we can continue to improve for the rest of this season."

Toro Rosso teammate Scott Speed had finished in eighth place in the Australian Grand Prix, but the American was stripped of the point after the stewards found out he had overtaken under yellow.

The American driver, in his first home event, had a day to forget after being taken out of the race at the first corner.

"I had a great start again, getting by Webber and Ralf at Turn 1 and then it all fell apart at Turn 2," said Speed. "It wouldn't have mattered if I'd tried to go inside or outside as the whole track was blocked with cars flipping all over the track.

"That's motor racing and as long as it's not my fault, there's nothing I can do about bad luck. I'm just sorry for all the home fans who turned up to see me race. Well done to Tonio for getting the team's first point."