Jan.17 (GMM) Vitantonio Liuzzi is ready to step into a racing cockpit if Force India's 2008 lineup does not perform adequately, technical boss Mike Gascoyne has warned.

The Briton suggests that Toro Rosso refugee Liuzzi, who has been signed as the team's test driver this year, will put pressure on colleagues Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil to push hard this season.

"If they need any motivation, they need only look at who the test driver is," Gascoyne told the British news agency Reuters.

"The message is very clear for Fisi, for both the race drivers. If they want to be driving in 2009, they have got to deliver. If not, there is a guy who will be driving in 2009," he added.

Gascoyne said he expects Fisichella, the Italian veteran of nearly 200 grands prix, to enjoy F1's new era without electronic aids like traction control.

"Fisi is a guy who you have to keep interested and make sure his motivation is there," he added.