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OFFICIAL: Fisi to Force
By Karl King January 9 2008
In the worst-kept secret in Formula 1 over the past few days, Force India F1 announced in Mumbai today that Giancarlo Fisichella will race alongside Adrian Sutil in 2008, piloting car numbers 20 and 21. Fisichella has been favoutite to get the drive recently, many speculating the team would choose the experienced Roman as the ideal candidate to partner the relatively inexperienced Sutil.

Fisichella, who drove for the team in it's Jordan days in two different time periods (1997 and 2002-2003) won his first race with the Silverstone-based outfit at the washout 2003 Brazilian GP, returns after a tough few years elsewhere.

Despite having a much better season than the slightly erratic Felipe Massa at Sauber in 2004, Fisichella's reputation was slightly tarnished when he decided to return to Renault whom he left in 2001.

Things looked good after winning the season opener at Melbourne, however Fisichella did not triumph again during the season, finishing fifth in the championship. His teammate Fernando Alonso, on the other hand, won 7 races, scored twice the amount of points Fisichella did and won the World Championship.

Fisico promised better in 2006, but again only won one race compared to Alonso's 7, the Spaniard only 10 points away from scoring double Fisi's points again. Fisichella improved his championship position by one place on the previous year - but Alonso was still triumphant.

With Alonso off to McLaren, who had a slightly shaky 2006, Fisi's fans hoped he would emerge from Fernando's shadow and lead the team to victory. Renault, however, failed to make the R27 race-winning material, ending this hope. Fisi outclassed his rookie teammate, Heikki Kovalainen during the first part of the season. However with a few races under his belt, Heikki began to shine, scoring the team's only podium of the season with a second place in Japan, and finishing ahead of Fisichella in the championship with nine more points.

Renault disposed of the veteran racer for 2008, and after a few drives in the Spyker B-spec 2007 car over the winter, many speculated it would be the Roman that would get the drive. Rumours were bandied around in the media that Force would require Fisi to come up with some funding for the drive - something the Italian was quick to dismiss saying teams pay him to drive. Other reports indicate Fisi's manager will be expected to bring some funding with him.

Force fans will be hoping, then, that Renault's loss is FIF1's gain.

Vitantonio Liuzzi was announced as test and reserve driver. Click to see the separate news here on this site.

 

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