Fisichella to Ferrari, Prodrive to buy Force India?

[Ardius]

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/fisichella-ferrari-indians-and-astons/

Fisichella, Ferrari, Indians and Astons

August 21, 2009 by joesaward

The word in F1 circles is that Force India driver Giancarlo Fisichella is hoping to land a test drive with Ferrari next year. The decision to give Luca Badoer a chance to race for Ferrari after a decade as the test driver is interpreted in F1 circles as being a sign that he will soon be moving on and Fisichella reckons that his experience in F1 is just what the red team needs.

Fisichella currently drives for India’s Vijay Mallya and although Mallya owns the biggest yacht in the harbour in Valencia, there continue to be rumours that he owes large sums of money to both Ferrari and to Mercedes-Benz, his engine suppliers for the last two seasons. These problems may be cash-flow related but they are now beginning to lead to rumours about legal actions and indeed about the future of the team. Mallya, of course, hopes to keep the operation going until India becomes more excited about F1, which he hopes will happen when there is an Indian GP in 2011. It is a nice idea, but he needs to survive for two years more and building up debt is not the best way to achieve that goal, particularly if you are giving the impression that you are a multi-squillionaire by swanning about in boats.

One rumour that has begun to circulate is that Prodrive might make a bid to buy Mallya out of the team. This would enable the Brackley team to use Mercedes-Benz engines, which is what it wishes to do. Unable to get an entry thus far, Prodrive is believed to want the German engines as part of a much bigger industrial plan which involves its sister company Aston Martin. The luxury car manufacturer would love to be in F1 to help sell its fancy road cars, but will only do that if it makes financial sense. Aston Martin also needs to find new engines for its future generations of road cars and the word is that Mercedes-Benz is the best option. Building its own engines is not an option because of the expensive nature of the certification process with governments across the globe.

Perhaps Mallya will knock the rumours on the head by reaching for his chequebook, but if he does not the whispers are sure to get louder in the weeks ahead.

I don't know how reliable this source is, but it does make sense and is quite intriguing.
Liuzzi mentioned at the Nurburgring that he was "100% sure he would have a race seat next year". I had assumed he meant at a different team, but this could make sense too, moving into Fisichella's seat as he moves to Ferrari.
Maybe also with Prodrive on board, Anthony Davidson would take Sutil's seat while Adrian moves to another team (perhaps Williams?).

Surely Prodrive could buy BrawnGP though....

 

[Tobias123]

Surely Prodrive could buy BrawnGP though....

But why would Brawn want to sell? They're only looking for sponsors aren't they?

Also, for some reason Fisichella jumping to Ferrari(even for a testing role) is a little surprising, if it even happens. But if it does happen, good for him. I like Fisi.

 

[Ardius]

As of now, we haven't seen any evidence at all that Brawn has secured backing for next year and beyond. I'm pretty sure Ross and the management would rather continue the team with Prodrive ownership than struggle and fade without. Also what makes me say this is that there is a connection between the two as Anthony Davidson drove for the Prodrive AMR team at Le Mans and elsewhere this year, he is the officially nominated Brawn test driver and he said he feels he has a race drive for next year.
I actually expected Prodrive to attempt to buy them for this year.

But either team is likely, Force India are also in a little bit of trouble it seems, Malya's other businesses are struggling.

Fisichella makes sense because I think he's looking at retiring soon anyway.

 

[Tobias123]

Fair enough, you make good points. I knew Prodrive were desperate to get in to Formula One, but to be honest I was expecting them to make a bid for the remains of BMW Sauber or something.

 

[Ardius]

Ah, but then they wouldn't have the engines they wanted, this way they get them.
Many believe that Prodrive were actually going to get an entry along with USF1, etc, but were turned down because they refused to use Cosworths.

Buying BMW would mean he would have to either use BMW engines or Cosworths. I doubt Mercedes would supply a 4th team. As the article points out - its in Aston Martin's interests to secure a relationaship with Mercedes.

 

[Tobias123]

Yeah I see your point, and it makes sense. But BMW up until this season has been one of the most consistently impressive and speedy outfits to rise up in Formula One, so they must have good engineers that many teams would probably love to hire. Plus, being the team of a big mean manufacturer, they would probably have incredible facilities available, more-so than Force India(but not necessarily Brawn I'll admit.)

This is all baseless hypothesis on my part though, feel free to correct me on any details I've got wrong.

 

[L_Hamilton]

This would make me so happy for Fisi. Has been my favorite driver in F1 since his win at Brazil in 2003. He really does deserve it. He has shown in the past that if he has good equipment he can succeed. First race with Renault, he won. Yes he made mistakes along the way and very much so was over-shadowed by a very talented up and coming F1 star, Fernando Alonso.

And it's something every Italian F1 driver seeks to be in. A part of the Ferrari F1 team would be amazing.

 

[Ardius]

I don't think Force India is that bad of a purchase really, they have decent facilities too remember. And they have improved a lot this year, to the point where they are on the edge of challenging for Q3.

I've also read elsewhere that actually Fisichella was in line to replace Massa after Schumacher couldn't, but Ferrari went with Badoer instead. Apparently something to do with Force India owing Ferrari for the engines as well Mallya promising Liuzzi a race seat.
More and more this seems to make sense.

 

[L_Hamilton]

I don't think Force India is that bad of a purchase really, they have decent facilities too remember. And they have improved a lot this year, to the point where they are on the edge of challenging for Q3.

I've also read elsewhere that actually Fisichella was in line to replace Massa after Schumacher couldn't, but Ferrari went with Badoer instead. Apparently something to do with Force India owing Ferrari for the engines as well Mallya promising Liuzzi a race seat.
More and more this seems to make sense.

Is Ferrari willing to buy out a driver from Force India or any other team for that matter to replace a injured driver of their own?

 

[Ardius]

Apparently Stefano Domenicali's choice to replace Massa was Fisichella but Luca di Montezemolo wanted Badoer in.
Ferrari have been willing before to overlook Badoer in favour of other drivers, why not this time? I think Montezemolo decided Badoer had earned it or there were some reservations or problems with getting Fisichella.

I imagine Stefano's plan was to bring Fisichella in and then hold onto him as test driver when Massa came back. Thus integrating him into the team earlier.

 

[L_Hamilton]

Apparently Stefano Domenicali's choice to replace Massa was Fisichella but Luca di Montezemolo wanted Badoer in.
Ferrari have been willing before to overlook Badoer in favour of other drivers, why not this time? I think Montezemolo decided Badoer had earned it or there were some reservations or problems with getting Fisichella.

I imagine Stefano's plan was to bring Fisichella in and then hold onto him as test driver when Massa came back. Thus integrating him into the team earlier.

Indeed. Nice conclusion.

Then, if they did/or do pick up Fisichella, who are they going to drop? M. Gene?

And if there's anywhere I want Fisishcella to retire, it would be Ferrari, even if it's just as a test driver. I don't want him to rot away in a low preforming team as Force India, even though they are getting better, but that has to do a lot with an experienced driver like Fisi. I don't think putting Luizzi in there won't do the team any justice to be honest.

 

[Peter]

I'd love to see Fisichella in a car that can score points again after Renault dropped him, which was a bad move. He needs to get back on track if he wants a successful career, and Ferrari is a great place to do so .

 

[Ardius]

Indeed. Nice conclusion.

Then, if they did/or do pick up Fisichella, who are they going to drop? M. Gene?

And if there's anywhere I want Fisishcella to retire, it would be Ferrari, even if it's just as a test driver. I don't want him to rot away in a low preforming team as Force India, even though they are getting better, but that has to do a lot with an experienced driver like Fisi. I don't think putting Luizzi in there won't do the team any justice to be honest.

I agree, Force India have benefitted a lot from Fisi, many a time in recent races we've seen Fisi be the one to take advantage of changing conditions and get the VJM01 and 02 into decent positions, even if it was only temporarily.
Liuzzi however is a decent driver and I wouldn't mind seeing him back.

Also - lets get this right, Force India are not really a "low performing team" anymore. I mean, I'd call what used to be Minardi, Prost or Jordan low performing. Force India are well within the midfield battle.

I'd actually go as far as saying nowadays we don't actually have a rubbish team in F1, STR and Force India are decent teams with good design departments, engineers, management and drivers. They are the "worst" teams, but that doesn't actually make them bad seeing as worst nowadays is a few tenths off the pace rather than seconds.

I'd love to see Fisichella in a car that can score points again after Renault dropped him, which was a bad move. He needs to get back on track if he wants a successful career, and Ferrari is a great place to do so .

He would be a test driver - he wouldn't score points. And as I understand it, he was thinking of retiring soon anyway, so if he does become Ferrari test driver, I doubt we will see him doing a Badoer.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/fisichella-ferrari-indians-and-astons/

I don't know how reliable this source is, but it does make sense and is quite intriguing.

Joe Saward is a fairly respected F1 journalist, so it's certainly interesting, but I would say it's just conjecture. I think Mallya is probably as rich as the yacht suggests (or the airline/brewery/etc). There's no smoke without fire though.

 

[Ardius]

I've heard that his airline is struggling at the moment, like many.
Well, its all interesting speculation anyway, but it does make a lot of sense and wouldn't be the least bit surprising if indeed Alonso is headed for Ferrari - there are going to be some major changes in the grid next year.

The Fisichella/Badoer stuff is also just speculation, but again, does make sense.

 

[L_Hamilton]

I'd love to see Fisichella in a car that can score points again after Renault dropped him, which was a bad move. He needs to get back on track if he wants a successful career, and Ferrari is a great place to do so .

They dropped him because Renault wasn't doing that good. So Renault had to replace them with some better drivers thinking that the cars weren't bad but the drivers(?) so they rolled the dice on Nelson Piquet and somehow got Alonso back, which he has done wonders with a none-performing car last year. Luckily Force India was a new team looking for experienced drivers to help their rookie team.

I agree, Force India have benefitted a lot from Fisi, many a time in recent races we've seen Fisi be the one to take advantage of changing conditions and get the VJM01 and 02 into decent positions, even if it was only temporarily.
Liuzzi however is a decent driver and I wouldn't mind seeing him back.

Also - lets get this right, Force India are not really a "low performing team" anymore. I mean, I'd call what used to be Minardi, Prost or Jordan low performing. Force India are well within the midfield battle.

I'd actually go as far as saying nowadays we don't actually have a rubbish team in F1, STR and Force India are decent teams with good design departments, engineers, management and drivers. They are the "worst" teams, but that doesn't actually make them bad seeing as worst nowadays is a few tenths off the pace rather than seconds.

That's very true. I'm pretty sure they are making BMW Sauber and STR sweat in the beginning of a race. I usually see Fisi and Sutil qualify in the back. No problem, just wait till the lights go out. The next thing anybody knows, Fisi and Sutil already passed both STR's and maybe Nakajima and sometimes Piquet Jr. Then when they scan through the feild during the middle of the race, you usually see a Force India driver in hot pursuit of another driver for like 11th -12th place. Usually Toyotas.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I don't think Force India is that bad of a purchase really, they have decent facilities too remember. And they have improved a lot this year, to the point where they are on the edge of challenging for Q3.

It's a tough comparison since last year we didn't have the two tire grade split.

 

[Ardius]

We don't anymore this year either though, and even with that in mind, they are still doing relatively better. I mean, Sutil was holding his 4th place at the Nurburgring very well, he wasn't being caught and he wasn't losing ground to the leaders. Same goes for Fisi and his many fights for 10ths, 9ths and almost 8ths, they are better than last year and to say they are a bad team based on results never does any team justice, but particularly not nowadays where backmarkers are usually only a second or less off the pace.

Point is, Prodrive wouldn't be making a mistake purchasing Force India, they are a capable team. Easily in the realms of Renault buying Benetton, BMW buying Sauber, etc.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

If Force India is sold, it should be to a constructor. Formula One needs a balance between privately-owned teams and manufacturers. And that's why Prodrive would be a good choice, I think. BMW's withdrawal has weakened the standing of the constructors, especially since the three new teams are all privately-owned and the likes of Epsilon Euskadi have come to the fore as the most likely candidates to fill BMW's vacancy.

As of now, we haven't seen any evidence at all that Brawn has secured backing for next year and beyond.

Apparently there re some big-name companies that want to get their name on the side of a race-winning car as soon as possible - Larry Page from Google is said to want it and was seen talking to Brawn back at Monaco - but none have comitted owing to the politcal maelstrom. If Brawn's return to form continues, I wouldn't be surprised to learn they start reeling sponsors in. I do knowthat one of the reasons why the Virgin deal fell through is because Brawn simpl want to be known as Brawn Grand Prix. They don't want a sponsor's name in their title, it seems.

As for Fisichella becoming a Ferrari test driver, I can see that happening. But I doubt it will go any further; Fisi is past it. He was past it years ago when he was with Jordan.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

We don't anymore this year either though

Since when?

 

[Ardius]

Since when?

Since Hungary, Bridgestone decided that the gap between compounds wasn't working and relented. We are now back with tyre compounds that are next to each other (soft/super soft, medium/soft, etc) again.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

That's good to hear. On Speed they only said that they weren't doing the old split in Valencia, nothing about the future.

 

[Ardius]

Thank you BBC and Holly Samos for regularly interviewing Andy Stobart of Bridgestone for that info 👍