Its been suggested that Red Bull F1 throw veteran David Coulthard a career lifeline, but the Milton Keynes-based team favours young stars such as Vitantonio Liuzzi, Bjorn Wirdheim and Scott Speed.

Its been suggested that Red Bull F1 throw veteran David Coulthard a career lifeline, but the Milton Keynes-based team favours young stars such as Vitantonio Liuzzi, Bjorn Wirdheim and Scott Speed.


The team formerly known as Jaguar Racing will test F3000 champion Italian Liuzzi in Barcelona next week. The Italian broke the record for the most wins in a single F3000 season this year and was formerly part of the Red Bull Junior Team driver development programme (which offers drivers support from their first go-karting attempts right until they reach the top formulae).


Liuzzi diced with Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher (in the 2001 Karting World Championship) and won the Italian Karting Championship in 1993 at the tender age of 11.


Red Bull Racing Team Principal Tony Purnell commented: “It is great to be testing Liuzzi. I have known him since his early karting days and I believe he is full of potential for the future.”


Red Bull Racing will begin its testing programme with an interim car in Barcelona and Jerez in early December. Liuzzi will be supported in testing by former Jaguar Racing pilot Christian Klien and Swedish test driver Bjorn Wirdheim.


The team’s owner, Dieter Mateschitz, has not made his final choice for next year’s driver line-up: "I want to test young drivers and others with more experience before taking the final decision. The only thing that I can say is that Liuzzi and Klien have a good chance of being our drivers for 2005. As for Scott Speed, we are considering him as a choice for test driver."


American Scott - who will turn 22 on in January - won the 2002 Red Bull Driver Search programme and is now a member of the Red Bull Junior Team. He capped a stellar year by winning the Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup championship title recently.

Original article from Car