- 01 Sep 09, 16:41#148447From F1 Live:
If Giancarlo Fisichella puts his signature on a five-race deal to finish the season with Ferrari, he is likely to then stay with the Maranello-based team next year and beyond as test driver.
The news means that not only does Luca Badoer face imminently losing his opportunity to race in injured Felipe Massa's race boots, but his long tenure as test driver dating back to the late nineties might also be over.
The suggestion is that Tonio Liuzzi is set to move into the Force India race seat full time next year, and immediately if Fisichella's Ferrari switch is completed ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.
"There is a lot of noise around about this," Liuzzi, currently Force India's test driver but reportedly already with a race contract for 2010, told GPWeek.
"For sure regarding the rumours I hope they are right. I need to drive as soon as possible because I am dying without racing. There is a high chance that something could happen."
It also emerges that Liuzzi is scheduled to conduct a straight line test in the Mercedes-powered VJM02 prior to the Italian Grand Prix. However, it is believed that the Monza reshuffle will occur depending on the outcome of medical tests currently being undergone by Massa in Miami.
Should the Brazilian get clearance to return to his seat sooner rather than later, Ferrari may be content to simply keep Badoer in the car for now.
It is believed that, according to a source close to his race engineer Rob Smedley, one test on Massa has already been completed, and the results were more positive than expected.
E.A. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM

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