Vitantonio Liuzzi says he was not impressed by Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais’ recent test for Toro Rosso.
Frenchman Bourdais, 27, lapped quicker than Scott Speed at Jerez earlier this month but lagged a few tenths behind the pace of Liuzzi; the Faenza squad’s other 2006 regular.
Bourdais is not likely to occupy a seat next year at Toro Rosso, but the jointly Gerhard Berger-owned team is notably the last to confirm its ’07 driver lineup.
Ex-Spyker Tiago Monteiro is reportedly a contender for a seat.
But referring to Bourdais, Liuzzi, 25, told the Italian magazine Autosprint: “(He) probably thought he would get here and humble everyone.
“And the (lap time gap at the test) would have been wider without a traction control problem on the new tyres,” Liuzzi insisted.
Despite Berger’s recent insistence that Bourdais is only in the frame for 2008, meanwhile, Liuzzi expressed uncertainty about the status of his contract for next season.
He said: “My contract specifies driving in F1, but with Red Bull you never know.
“I think I did well this season, but my future is not up to me.”
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
