Force India owner Vijay Mallya released Fisichella from his contract, somewhat reluctantly no doubt, since Fisichella had just brought the two-year-old team its first Championship points when he finished second behind Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonnen in last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
“I am very grateful to (Force India boss) Vijay Mallya for allowing me this opportunity to drive for the Scuderia Ferrari team,” Fisichella told the official Formula One Web site, Formula1.com.
“It is true that it has always been an ambition to do this, and for Vijay to have allowed it to become a reality is very generous. I hope in my turn I have helped Force India grow up and be on the right path to achieve their own ambitions. They are now a very competitive team and I wish them all the very best.”
The move will allow Fisichella to begin practicing in the Ferrari for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on September 13.
“We have chosen Fisichella because we can expect him to make a valuable contribution in this final part of the season,” said Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali on the Formula One Web site. “Giancarlo has shown throughout his long career that he is fast and competitive and we are therefore proud to be able to run an Italian driver in our home race.”
Fisichella, a native Italian, had commented in the past that he would instantly leave whatever team he was driving for if Ferrari were ever to call. Driving for Ferrari’s Formula One team is the highest aspiration a young Italian racer can hold.
Force India’s Vijay Mallya understood Fisichella’s wish, and allowed the Italian driver to fulfill his fantasy.
“For any Italian driver, a Ferrari race seat is a long-held dream and for Giancarlo it was no exception,” said Mallya on Formula1.com. “No one should stand in the way of this. The agreement will secure Giancarlo’s long-term future with Ferrari and it would be incorrect to jeopardise this. A competitive Italian driver in a Ferrari for Monza is a positive story for Formula One, which can only help raise the sport’s profile in these difficult times.”
Fisichella will be replacing Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer in the car of Felipe Massa, who was struck in the head by a spring which fell off a competitor’s car during practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 25.
Fisichella started his Formula One career with Minardi in 1996. He also worked as a test driver for Ferrari that year. He has driven for Minardi, Bennetton, Jordan and Renault, scoring three victories and finishing as high as fourth in the drivers’ championship.
Force India has yet to announce who will take over in Fisichella’s seat.
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