Fisichella to replace Badoer for rest of 2009

Fisichella to replace Badoer for rest of 2009
Thursday 3 September at 16:30 : Sep.3 (GMM) Force India has released
Giancarlo Fisichella so that the Roman driver can race for Ferrari at
Monza and until the end of the 2009 season.

After his boss Vijay Mallya and Fisichella's denials during and
shortly after the Belgian GP weekend, a statement issued by Force
India on Thursday afternoon said the proposal had been made only 24
hours ago.

"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," said
Mallya.

The Indian billionaire said the agreement does not include a financial
settlement.

"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," added Mallya, indicating that the
36-year-old will not be returning to his seat in 2010.

It is rumoured Fisichella's temporary race deal will lead into a full
test and reserve role at Ferrari in 2010 and beyond.

The Force India statement said his replacement for Monza will be
decided upon shortly, but it will surely be third driver Tonio Liuzzi,
who is understood to already have a contract to race next year.

In a separate statement, Stefano Domenicali thanked Luca Badoer for
the "team spirit" demonstrated at the first two races missed by the
injured Felipe Massa at Valencia and Spa.

"It is a shame he was unable to show his true worth in these last two
races, tackled under conditions which anyone would have found
difficult," he said

http://www.onestopstrategy.com/dailyf1news/nieuw/article/8749-Fisichella%20to%20replace%20Badoer%20for%20rest%20of%202009.html

Fisichella to be Ferrari reserve driver in 2010
Thursday 3 September at 18:00 : Sep.3 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali
confirmed on Thursday that Giancarlo Fisichella will be Ferrari's
reserve driver in 2010

The team boss was speaking to the Ferrari website on the day the
36-year-old former Force India driver arrived at Maranello from Rome
to begin preparing for the last five races of 2009

Domenicali indicated that Fisichella's role for next year was a factor
in his choice as Luca Badoer's race replacement

"He will be the reserve driver in 2010. We considered what could be
his role inside the team in the near future, also taking this year's
experiences into account," he said

Before ending his long race career and slipping into the test role,
Fisichella will replace the struggling Badoer at the wheel of injured
Felipe Massa's number 3 F60, beginning at his home race at Monza next
weekend

One of his first tasks on Thursday was to climb straight into the
cockpit of the red single seater so that technicians could begin to
modify the seat and controls to his liking

http://www.onestopstrategy.com/dailyf1news/nieuw/article/8750-Fisichella%20to%20be%20Ferrari%20reserve%20driver%20in%202010.html

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