FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Rusko]

i think fisi will do pretty well, i've always thought he was a decent driver. i can't see him getting a race win and i think he may regret becoming a reserve driver as opposed to being in a race seat half way through next year. but the lure of monza was just too much i'd guess.

it's probably more of a loss to force india than it is a gain to ferrari.

[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

Bernie Ecclestone thinks Force India should have replaced the Ferrari-bound Giancarlo Fisichella with an Indian national.

The F1 chief executive admitted recently he had hoped India, one of the world's burgeoning economies, would have become more involved with his sport.

Ecclestone clearly attributes India's lack of corporate interest partly due to the fact Force India has so far fielded foreign drivers. And with Fisichella departing to Ferrari for the last five races of 2009, boss Mallya has decided to replace him with another Italian, the team's reserve driver Tonio Liuzzi.

"I was hoping Vijay would give Karun a chance," Ecclestone told Hindustan Times.

The Briton is referring to the Indian Karun Chandhok, a 25-year-old who races in GP2 and has tested with Red Bull Racing.

Ecclestone said of Force India's billionaire boss Mallya: "I'm a little disappointed that he has put the Italian guy in.
Whether he has to do this by contract I don't know, but I would have liked to see Karun in the car."

He hopes India can stage its inaugural grand prix in 2011, and believes having Chandhok in the Force India would have boosted that prospect.

"We need to get Karun in the Formula One car quickly," said Ecclestone. "And he has got the talent and the ability, so it's a case of somebody just getting on and doing it now."

Chandhok is currently 18th in the GP2 standings.

E.A. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM

Yeah, yeah, Bernie. This is none of your concern. If Chandhok has the talent, he stands a good chance of getting a Formula One drive in the future.

[EwanM]

Kubica says he had talks with Ferrari

By Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer Thursday, September 10th 2009, 13:33 GMT

Robert Kubica has revealed that he held talks with Ferrari about taking its vacant race seat for the rest of the season.

Ferrari ultimately opted to recruit Giancarlo Fisichella from Force India after Luca Badoer's disappointing performances in Valencia and at Spa.

Kubica says he was also a contender but decided getting used to a new car mid-season without testing would be impractical.

"There was some contact and I was in the interests of Ferrari, but it's not so easy to change team in the middle of the year," said the Pole.

"But I think we will have a competitive car here with BMW so I am happy to be where I am."

After a difficult first half of the season, BMW Sauber has had an upturn in form in recent races, with Kubica and Nick Heidfeld finishing fourth and fifth in the last event at Spa.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78454

[Gilles 27]

Right so so much for Fisichella giving Kimi a run for his money

[headless]

Right so so much for Fisichella giving Kimi a run for his money

I dont get it.
How did he race like that? with Luizzi doing so well?
Fisi has raced more recently?

[Gilles 27]

Right so so much for Fisichella giving Kimi a run for his money

I dont get it.
How did he race like that? with Luizzi doing so well?
Fisi has raced more recently?

Fisi has never been a top line driver. he has always been good, potential race winner i guess but not in the same league as Kimi/Alonso/Hamilton. that's why he didn't do that well. that and the Ferrari being a bugger to drive, as their cars seem to tend to be.

[vaptin]

Luzzi probably had more preparation. Plus I think the pressure got to fisis on saturday - that crash didn't help things.

[headless]

Right so so much for Fisichella giving Kimi a run for his money

I dont get it.
How did he race like that? with Luizzi doing so well?
Fisi has raced more recently?

Fisi has never been a top line driver. he has always been good, potential race winner i guess but not in the same league as Kimi/Alonso/Hamilton. that's why he didn't do that well. that and the Ferrari being a bugger to drive, as their cars seem to tend to be.

Liuzzi isnt great

[Gilles 27]

Right so so much for Fisichella giving Kimi a run for his money

I dont get it.
How did he race like that? with Luizzi doing so well?
Fisi has raced more recently?

Fisi has never been a top line driver. he has always been good, potential race winner i guess but not in the same league as Kimi/Alonso/Hamilton. that's why he didn't do that well. that and the Ferrari being a bugger to drive, as their cars seem to tend to be.

Liuzzi isnt great

Liuzzi showed more promise as a junior imo. Neither of them did badly, i think the Force India is just the faster car atm

[EwanM]

Liuzzi and Sutil for THE FORCE in 2010 I think.

Chandhok hasn't exactly performed in GP2...

[Gilles 27]

Liuzzi and Sutil for THE FORCE in 2010 I think.

Chandhok hasn't exactly performed in GP2...

i've never really been too impressed by Chandhok. Whatever happened to Karthakayan? I really liked him, sideways kind of driver

[EwanM]

Liuzzi and Sutil for THE FORCE in 2010 I think.

Chandhok hasn't exactly performed in GP2...

i've never really been too impressed by Chandhok. Whatever happened to Karthakayan? I really liked him, sideways kind of driver

He was competing for Kolles Audi in the LMS at Silverstone last weekend.

[Gilles 27]

i saw him in A1GP a couple of times, he seemed fast. I'd love to see him in the frame for a Force India drive. I think he's more of a sprinter and he's got to be at least as good as Chandhok