Giancarlo Fisichella

[Damian Henderson]

Fisichella will be in the Ferrari for the rest of the season.

Giancarlo 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.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78280

Ferrari announcement at 3.30pm UK time today

http://twitter.com/NobleF1/status/3732959182

 

[Kevin Ascher]

Let's see how he does

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

Nice reward for him having one good result in 85 years in Formula 1 lol

 

[Kevin Ascher]

I remember that he once won a rainy Brazilian GP when he was the only one that hadn't pitted when the red flag was waved lol.

 

[Ryan Callan]

He won a race in 2006 Bram

Vijay says it doesn't have anything to do with outstanding debts over their engine deal, but that's bollocks, he'll have got a lot out of that

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

Oh wow two good results Why not sign Jarno Trulli too, or Tiago Monteiro, all exceptional talents that would do really well in a Ferrari

Its all politics again Adrian Sutil kicks Fisi's bum 9/10 normally

 

[Damian Henderson]

They can't sign Trulli otherwise they would. So they got Fisi.

Fisi is a good driver, just spent to much time in the shadow of Alonso. You will see Fisi show Kimi up a bit I think as he's got the pace.

 

[Ryan Callan]

Well, Italian, and helps Mallya's debts so = win win .

I would have thrown Bortolotti, Carroll or Calado in there and see how they did.

 

[Damian Henderson]

Well, Italian, and helps Mallya's debts so = win win .

I would have thrown Bortolotti, Carroll or Calado in there and see how they did.

Yes our team driver Carroll give him a shot!] :loser:


http://www.driverdb.com/drivers/8586/

 

[Ryan Callan]

He's won three races btw Bram, he's not a terrible driver, obviously one was fortuitous.

I've been very impressed with Calado - future world champion I think.

 

[Damian Henderson]

Ye Fisi is a good driver, just been a bit inconsistent and when he had a quick car he was number 2 to Alonso, now it's his time to show his skills.

 

[Omer Said]

At least better than Badoer

 

[Andrew Evans]

^^^ truth accepted :becky:

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

@Ryan: I didn't say he is a bad driver, i said he is an exceptional talent*...

*85 years old​

 

[Ryan Callan]

Lawl

 

[Mark Birney]

Fisichella will be in the Ferrari for the rest of the season.

 

[Damian Henderson]

--

 

[Damian Henderson]

Guys, Fisichella's substitute at Force India will be Liuzzi

http://twitter.com/BSenna/status/3739752070

 

[Ben Tusting]

Liuzzi is the test driver i thought anyway

Also

Giancarlo Fisichella says he cannot believe how his life has been transformed in the past week after being officially confirmed as a Ferrari driver for the remainder of 2009.
The Italian will race alongside Kimi Raikkonen for the rest of the season before becoming Ferrari's official reserve driver in 2010.


Reserve driver next year ouch

 

[Daniel Higgins]

Reserve driver next year ouch

yea :S I'd rather be a 1st or 2nd driver for a worse team than be a reserve driver for one of the best, I mean how often are reserve drivers used about one every few years if that!