HRT: Liuzzi, Clos or a young Red Bull for the second seat?

With Pedro de la Rosa already announced as the starter, attention has now turned to the search for HRT's second driver. Vitantonio Liuzzi declared in Abu Dhabi that he has a contract for 2012 with the Spanish team.

“We knew when we started that it couldn't be a one-year collaboration if we wanted to improve,” said the Italian.

“The team hired me to help them develop the car and bring experience to the team and I think everything is going well, the future looks promising” added Liuzzi.

At the moment his teammate is Daniel Ricciardo, placed at HRT by Red Bull after reaching an agreement with the Spanish team "to develop the young driver together".

The agreement with HRT would only be valid for 2011 and Helmut Marko has not yet decided whether to renew it for next season. Ricciardo could therefore stay or be promoted and drive a Toro Rosso while Jean-Eric Vergne would team up with de la Rosa at HRT. Another candidate for the Spanish team could be Dani Clos, a 23-year-old who has already raced in GP2 and who would form an all-Spanish lineup with de la Rosa.

Clos tested the car last week in Abu Dhabi and said he was ready to enter F1 full-time.