Fisi to Fifi?

[cosworth151]

Here's one for Dare:

Pitpass.com is reporting that an "extremely reliable" source has told them that Force India Formula 1 will announce that it has signed Giancarlo Fisichella as driver for next year.
They report that Fisi will not be buying his ride, but that his manager, Enrico Zanarini, will help find some backing for the team.

They say an official announcement will come "withing the next 48 hours."

[John S]

So it will be less like a car rental and more like a reimbursing your employer for private use of the company car.   

[Alianora La Canta]

Logic would suggest that Fisi would get the Force India seat, though the Pitpass item is dated for the 8th and the launch is on the 11th. The chances of Fisi or anyone else being announced as Sutil's team-mate before then are pretty remote!

I am somewhat sceptical about whether the pay arrangements Pitpass are reporting for Fisi are entirely accurate. I've seen at least one other source (Bild am Sonntag - English translation at Home of Sport) say that Fisi will earn 400,000 Euros. I'll wait until an official source confirms what's happening before I decide which one to believe.

[Dare]

looks like good news Ali

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/01/09/rodriguez-reveals-force-india-signed-fisichella/

[Steven Roy]

Vijay Mallya is quoted on a number of sites saying Fisi has the drive and Liuzzi is the test driver.  Even Roldan Rodriguez is quoted at http://formula1sport.net/formula-1/disappointed-rodriguez-says-fisi-to-race/ saying Fisi has the seat.

[cosworth151]

It's official. Force India F1 has announced that Sutil and Fisichella will have the race seats and Liuzzi will be the tester.

http://www.forceindiaf1.com/news.aspx?nid=19

Looks like Dare and Ali will be backing the same team this season!

Cos

[Dare]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64588

[Neil.P]

Hey good news mate

Neil.P

[Dare]

Good news he has a ride,bad news it's
the crappiest car on the grid.Guess he
had to turn in his Clio loaner

[cosworth151]

Good news he has a ride,bad news it's
the crappiest car on the grid.Guess he
had to turn in his Clio loaner

Maybe he can get a Tata Nano to replace it.

You've made an understandable mistake about it being the crappiest car on the grid. Just because it has Kingfisher Air sponsorship onit, it isn't a Toy.

Seriously, with Mike G & Co. getting some decent financial backing this year, I expect better things from the team.

[John S]

Good news he has a ride,bad news it's
the crappiest car on the grid.Guess he
had to turn in his Clio loaner

Mind you it was only a smidgeon behind Honda last season so lets hope they both make a real improvement this year.

[raindancer]

$120M is their budget. Sounds decent. And Mallya to a pot shot at both Honda and Toyota saying big bucks aren't enough. In Mike they have a good designer and who knows how they will go. I am supporting them this year.

[cosworth151]

Well, Dare, I see by your new avitar thatyou've officially become a Fifi fan.

[Alianora La Canta]

When I first figured it out for certain (two days ago, just before I temporarily lost my internet connection), I felt like doing cartwheels and only refrained from doing so because my parents were asleep in the next room...

I can see the Fisi/Sutil/Liuzzi combo working really, really well for Force India.