Ferrari or not, Fisichella belongs in a different ride
By Chris Symeon, Motorsports Editor Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Giancarlo Fisichella's podium finish in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix could not have come at a better time for the 36- year-old Italian driver.
Fisichella not only gave Force India its first-ever Formula One points, but also notched the team's maiden pole in the sport at Spa-Francorchamps. However, Fisichella is making more news off the track this week, as he is widely rumored to move over to Ferrari and replace Luca Badoer, who has substituted for the injured Felipe Massa in the past two grand prix.
Massa continues to recover from multiple head injuries he sustained during a high-speed qualifying crash last month in Hungary. He is currently in Miami undergoing additional medical tests.
The Brazilian hopes to compete in the grand prix in his home country on October 18, but speculation is that he will not be back in the car until at least next season.
Later this week, Ferrari is expected to announce their driver line-up for the September 13 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
"With regards with what we are going to do for the next few races, we will tell you in the next three days," Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said after the Belgian GP.
Kimi Raikkonen gave Ferrari it's first victory of the season, in what has been a struggling year for the usually dominating Italian team. Raikkonen, a former F1 world champion, benefited from his Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) to easily overtake Fisichella in the opening laps at Spa. He beat Fisichella at the finish by less than one second for his first win since April 2008 in the Spanish Grand Prix.
Fisichella said he was disappointed he didn't win at Spa, and felt his Force India car was quicker than Raikkonen's. Force India is still in the experiment stages with their KERS.
Since being named as replacement driver for Massa earlier this month, Badoer has failed to shine at Valencia, Spain and Spa, Belgium. Badoer, a long-time test driver for Ferrari, has qualified last in both events.
Fisichella has denied reports that he will replace Badoer at Ferrari.
"So far, I'm just concentrating for the next race with Force India unless [Ferrari] is going to call me, but even if they do call me, there are many things to think about, so we will see," Fisichella said.
Fisichella might have to think quickly, since Force India commercial director Ian Phillips told British radio Five Live on Monday that "they expect a move will be made in the next 24 hours or so." Force India team boss Vijay Mallya insists Fisichella has not received an invitation from Ferrari, and he is looking forward to driving the Force India car in the upcoming grand prix at Monza, Italy.
In 2007, Mallya, an Indian billionaire, bought the former Spyker team and renamed it Force India.
Mallya's team failed to score a point in their inaugural F1 season last year, but Mallya took over as team principal and developed a relationship with Mercedes for engine support prior to the start of the 2009 season.
While Force India has shown some signs of progress, Fisichella is better off with a more competitive team. The veteran is a three-time grand prix winner and a four-time pole sitter.
His last win came in the 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix when he drove for Renault and teamed with Fernando Alonso, who was earlier rumored as Massa's fill-in.
Fisichella, whose contract with Force India expires at the end of the year, can very well revitalize his F1 career in a new ride, very much like Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello have done. At the end of last season, Button and Barrichello's futures were in limbo after their Honda team folded shop. Ross Brawn acquired the former team and has since reinvigorated both drivers' careers.
Button is the current world champion leader, while Barrichello, the oldest active, full-time driver in F1 at age 37, is 16 points behind his Brawn GP teammate.
If Fisichella does move to Ferrari, he would only serve as a replacement driver for Massa. What's in store for Fisichella in 2010 is anyone's guess at this point.
After his striking performance at Spa, Fisichella has shown the F1 racing world he is worthy of a ride that can once again make him one of the circuit's top competitors.
08/31 18:26:01 ET
