Fisichella to replace Massa from now on

[sejtur]

Force India releases Fisichella to Ferrari

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, September 3rd 2009, 13:50 GMT

Giancarlo FisichellaGiancarlo Fisichella will be the second Ferrari driver from the Italian Grand Prix after he was released from his contract by his Force India team on Thursday.

Following days of speculation about who would line up alongside Kimi Raikkonen now that Felipe Massa is out for the season, Force India confirmed that Fisichella would switch teams from the Italian Grand Prix.

The team said that discussions with Ferrari began in the last 24 hours, once it became clear that Massa was out for the season. Force India owner Dr Vijay Mallya said: "Giancarlo and his management team approached me yesterday with the proposal from Ferrari.

"For any Italian driver, a Ferrari race seat is a long-held dream and for Giancarlo it was no exception. No one should stand in the way of this. Furthermore the agreement will secure Giancarlo's long-term future with Ferrari and it would be incorrect to jeopardise this, particularly when Giancarlo has made such a vital contribution to Force India."

Force India is understood to have outstanding debts with Ferrari left over from its customer engine supply deal that ended last year - but Mallya said that commercial factors did not have a role in the outcome.

"We would like to stress that we have not agreed any financial settlement with Ferrari," he said. "This agreement has been made in good faith and for the good of Giancarlo and the sport in general. A competitive Italian driver in a Ferrari for Monza is a positive story for Formula 1, which can only help raise the sport's profile in these difficult times.

"We would like to thank Giancarlo for all his help over the past one and a half seasons and for delivering us our first World Championship points last weekend. He has been an integral part of the team and we owe him a great deal for his input behind the scenes and performance out on track. We wish him all the best for the future.

"For Force India, this sport is a team effort and removing one part, even a major one, will not significantly affect our performance. The competitiveness of the team seen in Belgium was a result of hard work in the factory and wind tunnel and we have further developments coming for the final races, so we are confident this momentum can be sustained. We are now looking forward to a strong finish to the season."

Force India has not made a decision who will drive alongside Adrian Sutil for the rest of the season, although it is expected that Vitantonio Liuzzi will step up from his test drive role.

By Autosport.

 

[Christian_C]

cool, but gutted all the same. Can't say it wasn't expected.

 

[Hun200kmh]

It's like a swan song for Fisichella's F1 career, but a beautiful one. I wish him the best! 👍

 

[daan]

It'd be a laugh if he gets beaten by Sutil's, and possibly Liuzzi's, Force India at Monza.

 

[L_Hamilton]

I am so happy for him! This is great news. We'll see how he does in Monza.

Go Fisi!

 

[Hun200kmh]

We cannot reasonably expect a strong showing from him at Monza, considering that he won't be able to touch the car before FP 1 begins.

 

[nissan tuner]

I thought Badoer would last for 3 races, looks like my prediction was wrong

I could only imagine the riot in Monza and Maranello if he was confirmed for their Grand Prix

 

[DaddyVDUB]

Great news,hope this works out for all involved.

 

[Dougboy]

And he is officially ending his racing career this year? Hmmm

 

[Flerbizky]

We cannot reasonably expect a strong showing from him at Monza, considering that he won't be able to touch the car before FP 1 begins.

Care to disagree - Fisi is used to this years F1 cars, in racing situations, whereas Badoer was only used to tests - I'm fairly sure Fisi will do quite well the last races of the season...

Hope to see him in Ferrari next season (If there is one that is)

 

[Hun200kmh]

Care to disagree - Fisi is used to this years F1 cars, in racing situations, whereas Badoer was only used to tests - I'm fairly sure Fisi will do quite well the last races of the season...

Hope to see him in Ferrari next season (If there is one that is)

Oh, I'm sure he will do much better than Badoer. By "strong showing" I mean doing what Massa was doing. Equal or better than Raikkonen.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Oh, I'm sure he will do much better than Badoer. By "strong showing" I mean doing what Massa was doing. Equal or better than Raikkonen.

I don't think he could do that after a full season of racing & testing. Fisichella just isn't that good. He's no Badoer, but neither is he a Raikkonen. I predict 11th - 14th in quali, finish 8th. And that's remembering that the Ferrari has KERS.

 

[Ardius]

Heh, looks like that rumour was true after all. Good for Fisi and a great way to end your racing career 👍

As Giles said, we can't expect him to be on pace with Raikkonen straight away. There are many factors involved with driver change. For all we know he might not like the charateristics of the car, the Force India may have suited his style better.
He also won't instantly know how the car responds to setup changes, how it races with different fuel levels, how it reacts with the tyres, etc.
I think it would be reasonable to expect points finishes though, the car is very capable and the KERS should help.

I believe Rob Smedley was his race engineer before when they were at Jordan, so at least he should get along with the team ok.

As for his actual ability...I think Fisi has the ability to beat Raikkonen on his day. Its just that he seems to have trouble holding it together consistently, he seems to let the pressure affect him. But on his best days he is up there with the best in my opinion.

 

[spyrrari]

Great news,i am really happy for good old fisi...

I also don't think he will get used to the ferrari in an instand,but he does have experience enough to adapt pretty quickly though...
Therefore i wouldn't be really surpriced he does very well at monza,the ferrari obviously will be strong there because of the topspeed(KERS)and there are not many different types of corners were he needs to get used to the car much...allmost all of them except the chicanes are fast and flowing corners...so if he gets the balance right in those,he will be fine...


But most of all i just hope he gets a podium...just to see the reaction of the tifosi afterwards!!!!!!!....


go fisi go...



spyrrari.

 

[PeterJB]

How many more driver changes are we going to get this year?!

 

[Ardius]

I think this thread deserves this picture:

Nice to see some people have their dreams come true

(also this would be a good picture for the caption thread )

 

[Terronium-12]

Congratulations, Fisi.

First a win with Force India and now being traded to your dream team. 👍

I'm confused about thing as this is the first I've heard of it (literally as I'm writing this) what will become of Massa's spot? I'm aware of the rumors with Raikkonen and whatnot but still...?

 

[Robin]

Although its the best thing for Fisi and his career I would have loved to have seen him in the Force India at Monza and do it all over again!

 

[L_Hamilton]

I think this thread deserves this picture:


(also this would be a good picture for the caption thread )

"Can't...stop..smiling.."

 

[Peter]

This is absolutely spectacular!!!!! It would be hilarious if he even beat Raikkonen

 

[NapoleonMikey]

I'm confused about thing as this is the first I've heard of it (literally as I'm writing this) what will become of Massa's spot? I'm aware of the rumors with Raikkonen and whatnot but still...?

that's what i'm wondering. will Fisi move to one of the new teams after this year or will he being staying with the ferrari outfit. makes you wonder if ferrari knows something that there not telling the public concerning raikkonen or massa.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I'm confused about thing as this is the first I've heard of it (literally as I'm writing this) what will become of Massa's spot? I'm aware of the rumors with Raikkonen and whatnot but still...?

Massa will re-take his seat in 2010 and Fisichella will then become Ferrari's reserve driver.

As well as confirming Giancarlo Fisichella as substitute for Felipe Massa for the remainder of the 2009 season, Ferrari also revealed on Thursday that the Italian will remain as reserve driver for the team next year, bringing the curtain down on a full-time Formula One race career after fourteen seasons.

With Fisichella, who finished second in the Belgian Grand Prix, replacing Luca Badoer for the rest of the year, Ferrari Team Manager Stefano Domenicali gave the Scuderia's motives.

"We chose Giancarlo because we think that he can make a significant contribution in terms of points during the finale of this uncertain season," explained Domenicali, who took over from Jean Todt at the start of last year.

"Furthermore, we considered what his role could be inside the team in the near future, also taking this year's experiences into account. He will be the reserve driver in 2010. I want to thank Vijay Mallya and Force India F1 for giving Giancarlo the possibility to cancel his contract in such a happy moment for the team, allowing him to crown his dream as a driver.

"Now we have to concentrate on Monza, an event we really care for in a very special way; we know that it will be difficult to keep the performance level we have had over the last Grands Prix but we'll give our best to entertain our fans and I hope there will be lots of them at the track to support us."

Source: http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/09/03/fisichella-to-be-ferrari-2010-test-driver/

 

[ASH32]

Congratulations, Fisi.

First a win with Force India and now being traded to your dream team. 👍

I'm confused about thing as this is the first I've heard of it (literally as I'm writing this) what will become of Massa's spot? I'm aware of the rumors with Raikkonen and whatnot but still...?

What race were you watching?
Anyway it will be interesting to see how well Fisichella does.

 

[Stang245]

How many more driver changes are we going to get this year?!

One. A worthy one...

 

[Robin]

Surely you would rather be a racing driver racing in F1 rather than being a reserve driver. Even if its a very prestigious team.

 

[yeti]

Surely you would rather be a racing driver racing in F1 rather than being a reserve driver. Even if its a very prestigious team.

Yeah - I thought that was a bit odd - unless he didn't have a drive for next year anyway - and didn't expect FI to renew?

C.

 

[TheCracker]

Surely you would rather be a racing driver racing in F1 rather than being a reserve driver. Even if its a very prestigious team.

I guess that Fisi was thinking that it was unlikely that he'd get a drive for next season, or even wanted to drive for another season. Being a Ferrari reserve driver and still being around F1 beats signing on.

 

[Pupik]

An Roman in a Ferrari at Monza? Pffft...Barlini could do it, until the dreaded black flag came out.

The Italian press probably needs a change in underwear after that announcement.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Massa will re-take his seat in 2010 and Fisichella will then become Ferrari's reserve driver.http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/09/03/fisichella-to-be-ferrari-2010-test-driver/

Please tell me Giancarlo will rather race in a Force India next year than being a reserve driver at Ferrari?

As much as good this news is for Giancarlo, I'd rather see him race at FI next year than playing a reserve driver role at Ferrari.

 

[Ardius]

Surely you would rather be a racing driver racing in F1 rather than being a reserve driver. Even if its a very prestigious team.

Not if you were considering retirement anyway. Plus the fact that it was expected he would be booted from Force India in favour of Liuzzi anyway next year. (apparently Liuzzi was "promised" a race seat by Force India when he first joined)

Please tell me Giancarlo will rather race in a Force India next year than being a reserve driver at Ferrari?

As much as good this news is for Giancarlo, I'd rather see him race at FI next year than playing a reserve driver role at Ferrari.

No, Giancarlo will be simply reserve driver next year. Liuzzi is expected to take over at FI. It was rumoued he was considering retirement, and his contract with Force India ended this year. So he most definitely wants this. Who wouldn't want to be paid to drive Ferrari's as an ending to your career? Especially as an Italian who had dreamed of such a thing.


I had wondered why Liuzzi was so confident of a 2010 race seat at the Nurburgring, now I see why.