Fisichella Targets Race Seat in 2010

Although the deal signed by Giancarlo Fisichella with Ferrari included a one-year testing role with the team for 2010, the Roman driver insisted that he is not completely off the market next year. Just like it happened in the Force India case, if the Scuderia agrees to the idea of their test driver racing for another team next year he will step up to the job.

The current in-season testing ban means all testing duties will be fulfilled prior to the beginning of the 2010 season, so there would be little to do for the 36-year old driver in the Ferrari garage throughout the upcoming season. Under the circumstances, he would be better prepared to replace one of the Ferrari drivers – if that situation were to arise next year – if racing on a day-to-day basis for another team.

“For the moment I am focused on scoring points in order to defend Ferrari's third place in the constructors' championship. And then, if Ferrari is in agreement, in 2010 I could race with another team,” said Fisichella in an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa.

For the time being, what's certain is that Fisichella will indeed race for Ferrari for the upcoming 5 races. If he'll make a great impression during those 5 events – and help the prancing horse reach their goal this season – he may be able to convince the Maranello representatives his racing days are not over.

Until then, however, Fisichella can't wait to re-join former race engineer Rob Smedley, with whom he worked back in his Jordan days (2002/03). Smedley, who has been Felipe Massa's race engineer until the Brazilian driver's accident in Hungary, will work closely with Fisichella during his 5-race stint with Ferrari.