Force India have released Giancarlo Fisichella from his contract with immediate effect, allowing the Italian driver to join Ferrari for the remainder of the season.
Fisichella will now join his new team in time for his home race at Monza on September 13.
The 36-year-old replaces Luca Badoer as Kimi Raikkonen's team-mate, after the Italian test driver filled in unsuccessfully for two races following Felipe Massa's accident at the Hungarian grand prix.
Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal of Force India, who finished a stunning second in Belgium with Fisichella last weekend, said in a statement: "We would like to stress that we have not agreed any financial settlement with Ferrari. This agreement has been made in good faith and for the good of Giancarlo and the sport in general. 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.
"We would like to thank Giancarlo for all his help over the past one and a half seasons and for delivering us our first World Championship points last weekend. He has been an integral part of the team and we owe him a great deal for his input behind the scenes and performance out on track. We wish him all the best for the future."
Fisichella added: "I am very grateful to Vijay Mallya for allowing me this opportunity to drive for the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro team. 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."
Force India are yet to announce who will replace Fisichella for them for the remainder of the season.
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