Giancarlo Fisichella Moves to Ferrari

The landscape of Formula One racing will be changing a bit as Giancarlo Fisichella has asked for and received his release from his agreement with Force India on Thursday. Giancarlo will now suit up and get behind the wheel of a Ferrari for the remaining five races of the 2009 Formula One season. He’ll be replacing Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer as a stand-in for injured Felipe Massa in next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix and then will act as Ferrari’s reserve driver for the 2010 Formula One season. Badoer was brought in as a replacement for Felipe Massa after his unfortunately injury in July’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Badoer has failed to get a grip on the F60 in his brief stint. Ferrari had to do something to stop the bleeding and get the team back in the race for third place in the constructors’ championship. Badoer didn’t really get to show his worth in his brief stay in a Formula One cockpit. The conditions under which he entered into the show would have challenged the likes of Michael Schumacher. Hopefully, he’ll get another chance to show what he can do behind the wheel of a Formula One car in the future.

Giancarlo Fisichella will be driving for Ferrari for the rest of the 2009 Formula One season and on into the 2010 Formula One season

Force India has yet to confirm who will be taking Fisichella’s place behind the wheel of their Formula One car in the up coming Italian Grand Prix. The word on the wire is that Vitantonio Liuzzi is being groomed as a replacement for his fellow Italian racer and will take the place alongside Adrian Sutil in Force India’s number 21.

Ferrari has chosen well and I expect Fisichella to make a contribution to Ferrari’s future in the last five races and on into the 2010 Formula One season. Giancarlo has always been fast in a Formula One car during his long career and very competitive. It certainly helps his case that he’s an Italian racer and he’ll make his fans and country men proud. Fisichella achieved Force India’s first Formula One points and podium finish at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix by finishing second behind Kimi Raikkonen. He is just starting to get his confidence back and Ferrari has made a good choice by bringing Fisichella into their fold. We should throw in a word on the honour and generosity shown by Force India’s owner Vijay Mallya, by giving Fisichella the freedom he asked for and the chance to drive for the Scuderia Ferrari team.

“Image: Zuma Press”