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Liuzzi Denies Force India Ousting

Vitantonio Liuzzi may have lost his seat with Force India recently – according to a report from Swiss newspaper Blick – but he sure doesn't act like it. In a recent interview with Italian website 422race.com, he insisted that the team's officials did not inform him of such a decision.

The Italian racer signed a 2-year deal with Force India prior to the 2010 campaign, which means he has an automatic contract to race for Vijay Mallya's team in 2011 also. However, if the recent reports about the team signing Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta are true, Liuzzi's ousting should come on the expense of some financial retribution or another compensation of some kind.

And the media started speculating on the matter, suggesting that Liuzzi was offered a money compensation from Mallya in order to give up his 2011 seat. Another rumor also linked the Italian with a seat in the DTM for Mercedes-Benz, where he would replace reigning champion Di Resta.

My situation is clear,” insisted the 29-year-old in an interview with the aforementioned source. “Force India hasn't informed me about any change and for me only the words of the team count. I wasn't offered anything, as I said I haven't spoken to Force India about anything like that.”

By now, nothing can surprise me any more in Formula One,” he continued. “But so far I wasn't offered anything – neither money nor a seat in DTM, as I read elsewhere. They didn't tell me such things, for sure. I'm pretty calm, because I have a very clear deal with the team for the 2011 season and if they should decide to take other routes, they know what they are facing.

According to the report in Blick, Liuzzi would be ousted from the Silverstone based team completely, as the Friday and reserve driver role within the squad would be taken by former Williams racer Nico Hulkenberg. However, an official decision from Force India will be made in the upcoming 2 weeks.
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