Mallya plays down Fisi loss
Giancarlo Fisichella may have realised his lifelong dream of driving for Ferrari on Thursday but for Force India owner Vijay Mallya it is not a big worry.
Giancarlo Fisichella may have realised his lifelong dream of driving for Ferrari on Thursday but for Force India owner Vijay Mallya it is not a big worry.
“Let’s get one thing clear. Fisichella’s presence or absence will not make the car go faster or slower. The car has already been developed and is competitive and blindingly fast,” Mallya said, playing down the Italian’s shift. Fisichella gave Force India its first points in 29 races at the Belgium Grand Prix last week when he finished second.
Experts say Force India has made rapid strides this season. After their exploits in Belgium, the team is tipped for a good finish at the end of the season. “The efforts and the sporting success of Force India is great, it is overdue and I am sure it is the sort of thing that will encourage Vijay (Mallya) and the sponsors of that team and the supporters of that team to believe that it is possible,” McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said.
Mallya is hoping that Adrian Sutil can carry the momentum at next week’s Italian Grand Prix.
“For Force India, this sport is a team effort and removing one part, even a major one, will not significantly affect our performance. The competitiveness of the team seen in Belgium was a result of hard work. We have further developments coming for the final races, so we are confident this momentum can be sustained. We are now looking forward to a strong finish to the season,” he said.
Meanwhile, reserve driver Vitantonio Luizzi is tipped to replace Fisichella for remaining races. However Force India are staying quiet for now. “A decision regarding the driver of car No. 21 will be made in the coming days and no further comment will be made on
this front,” the team said in a statement.
Fisichella said it is a dream come true. “I’m in seventh heaven. I still can’t believe it that the dream of my life comes true and I want to thank Ferrari and chairman Luca di Montezemolo. Over the last week some really incredible things happened to me: the pole position and then second place at Spa and now I’m called by Ferrari to race the last five races of the season for them,” Fisichella said.
Looking ahead, Fisichella said he would put his best foot forward. “I’ll give my best to recompense the Ferrari for this great opportunity they gave me. I know that it won’t be easy, but I’ll give it everything to gain the best possible results.”
“Let’s get one thing clear. Fisichella’s presence or absence will not make the car go faster or slower. The car has already been developed and is competitive and blindingly fast,” Mallya said, playing down the Italian’s shift. Fisichella gave Force India its first points in 29 races at the Belgium Grand Prix last week when he finished second.
Experts say Force India has made rapid strides this season. After their exploits in Belgium, the team is tipped for a good finish at the end of the season. “The efforts and the sporting success of Force India is great, it is overdue and I am sure it is the sort of thing that will encourage Vijay (Mallya) and the sponsors of that team and the supporters of that team to believe that it is possible,” McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said.
Mallya is hoping that Adrian Sutil can carry the momentum at next week’s Italian Grand Prix.
“For Force India, this sport is a team effort and removing one part, even a major one, will not significantly affect our performance. The competitiveness of the team seen in Belgium was a result of hard work. We have further developments coming for the final races, so we are confident this momentum can be sustained. We are now looking forward to a strong finish to the season,” he said.
Meanwhile, reserve driver Vitantonio Luizzi is tipped to replace Fisichella for remaining races. However Force India are staying quiet for now. “A decision regarding the driver of car No. 21 will be made in the coming days and no further comment will be made on
this front,” the team said in a statement.
Fisichella said it is a dream come true. “I’m in seventh heaven. I still can’t believe it that the dream of my life comes true and I want to thank Ferrari and chairman Luca di Montezemolo. Over the last week some really incredible things happened to me: the pole position and then second place at Spa and now I’m called by Ferrari to race the last five races of the season for them,” Fisichella said.
Looking ahead, Fisichella said he would put his best foot forward. “I’ll give my best to recompense the Ferrari for this great opportunity they gave me. I know that it won’t be easy, but I’ll give it everything to gain the best possible results.”