But after a promising qualifying session on Saturday, where he secured fifth place on the starting grid, he eventually finished eighth.
Ecclestone told the Times that he did not expect either US F1 or Campos Meta to be on the starting grid in March.
"While it looks like he's out of the winter testing programme, we fully expect Mark to make the starting grid in Melbourne next March, " the team said.
The partisanship was overt and when the mechanics came past our position, pushing trolleys laden with tyres towards the starting grid, there was cacophonous applause for the Ferrari crew.
Liuzzi's German team mate Adrian Sutil, who had suffered a driveshaft failure in final practice, qualified 14th but will be demoted five places on the starting grid for an unscheduled gearbox change.
BBC: Sebastian Vettel pips Fernando Alonso to German F1 pole
But in 2005, controversy blighted the race as a result of the Michelin tyre safety row which meant that only six cars were on the starting grid - those of Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi.
BBC: Formula 1 to make US return at new Austin track in 2012
The German benefited from the controversial decision to penalise Alonso five places on the starting grid after blocking Ferrari's Felipe Massa in qualifying - a punishment criticised by Ecclestone, who described it as a "farce".
BBC: SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Schumi 'had no pressure to quit'
With three laps remaining, though, he crashed out following a collision with BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica for which he was demoted 10 places on the starting grid at next weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix - but his drive was still indicative of Red Bull's encouraging speed.
Starting from a grid position of 14th, Button made steady progress up the field after a series of impressive overtaking maneuvers.
Renault's Fernando Alonso was left disappointed again after finishing eighth despite starting third on the grid.
Button led a Brawn GP one-two, with teammate Rubens Barrichello finishing second after starting third on the grid and running strongly at the start.
An agreement was reached on Thursday, with the contract subject to the condition the team has a starting place on the grid for 2010.
Lorenzo cruised to victory more than nine seconds clear of Alex de Angelis, who earned his first podium finish after starting fourth on the grid for San Carlo Honda Gresini.
Chevrolet's Rob Huff took race one, while team-mate Alain Menu took race two, despite Priaulx starting from second on the grid.
Double world champion Alonso won the race -- the first for Renault in two years -- despite starting from 15th on the grid.
Double world champion Alonso of Spain won the race -- the first for Renault in two years -- despite starting from 15th on the grid.
CNN: Ex-Renault chief Briatore wins appeal over lifetime F1 ban
The 2009 world champion came home nearly 14 seconds ahead of defending champion Sebastian Vettel, the Red Bull driver capitalizing on the chaos after starting a lowly 10th on the grid.
Red Bull driver Vettel claimed his second win of the season in the 57-lap race, after starting at No. 2 on the grid, as he moved 10 points clear of Kimi Raikkonen in the championship standings.
Vettel also set a record for the most pole positions in a single season last term, starting 15 races from the front of the grid.
You have the career mode where you can drive through three seasons of Formula 1, starting with a team at the back of the grid and strive to win the Drivers Championship for one of the leading teams.
FORBES: F1 2011 Needs One More Lap On The PS Vita To Get Pole Position
应用推荐