Posts 
Atom It's been an emotional week for me as a Force India and Fisichella supporter. First there was the magnificent pole, then 24 hours later came Force India's first points - and eight of them to boot.
I'd almost got back to normal when it was announced that Giancarlo Fisichella, the man who drove the FIF1 that took the pole and points, is leaving Force India to chase a childhood dream at Ferrari. It was just as well I'd written a blog entry that morning because there was no way I could have done one after I read the announcement. I was in too emotional a state to do more than little comments describing the edges of what I was feeling.
Ferrari is unlike any other team on the grid. Not only has it captured the imagination of millions, but it's also the only F1 team loyalty I can think of that is routinely passed down the generations. This is particularly true in Italy and it has been known for a long time that Giancarlo had a deep desire to be part of the Scuderia. Back in 1995, he tested for Ferrari, but various circumstances meant that in the fourteen years between then and now, Giancarlo and Ferrari have taken separate paths through F1.
So the first thing I felt when I read the announcement was a deep joy that Giancarlo had finally realised his dream of dreams - a deeper joy, even, than the one I'd felt at the weekend when watching his amazing performance. This time, though, it was alloyed with other emotions.
I was worried about where this left Force India. Now I'm sure Tonio Liuzzi is capable of performing reasonably well (assuming he gets the call, which common sense and, probably, his contract demands he does) and that Adrian can probably lead a team, but Monza looked like being a potential win for them and without Giancarlo I'm not sure Force India will be able to manage it. Whether it is simply a question of the eventual winner of that race having switched from one victory-capable car to another or someone else entirely will take the glory remains to be seen. However, there is no doubt in my mind that Force India will take a short-term set-back from all this.
They've handled the situation beautifully, with very kind words for everyone involved (except Ian Phillips, who jumped the gun a bit) and a willingness to ensure that negotiations over compensation do not mar the transfer. There's also a sweetness in them letting Fisi chase his dream rather than cause resentment by forcing him to stay put, as they would have been entitled to do.
Also, I was a bit sad because barring some quite strange events, Giancarlo's F1 racing career will end with the Abu Dhabi sunset. Yes, he'll be Ferrari's reserve driver next year and thus could be called up at any moment, but I don't really want his career to end at a point when I feel he's a better driver than ever... ...but the F1 paddock is ruthless and it's not entirely clear that Giancarlo would have had a race seat in 2010 even if he had rejected the Ferrari offer.
So overall I'm feeling a bit complicated about the whole thing, but the joy in seeing Giancarlo finally reach the aim of his career after all these years - and of seeing him so incredibly happy about it - is winning out. Monza will be a very emotional race for me and him, especially if he ends up the first Italian Ferrari driver to win there since 1966, in which case it will go down as the crowning glory of a long and honourable career.
Tomorrow I expect to manage to write a blog entry without mentioning Giancarlo. I know it's been his week in the limelight, but other stuff is starting to appear to possibly blow clouds across my currently-sunny mood.
I'd almost got back to normal when it was announced that Giancarlo Fisichella, the man who drove the FIF1 that took the pole and points, is leaving Force India to chase a childhood dream at Ferrari. It was just as well I'd written a blog entry that morning because there was no way I could have done one after I read the announcement. I was in too emotional a state to do more than little comments describing the edges of what I was feeling.
Ferrari is unlike any other team on the grid. Not only has it captured the imagination of millions, but it's also the only F1 team loyalty I can think of that is routinely passed down the generations. This is particularly true in Italy and it has been known for a long time that Giancarlo had a deep desire to be part of the Scuderia. Back in 1995, he tested for Ferrari, but various circumstances meant that in the fourteen years between then and now, Giancarlo and Ferrari have taken separate paths through F1.
So the first thing I felt when I read the announcement was a deep joy that Giancarlo had finally realised his dream of dreams - a deeper joy, even, than the one I'd felt at the weekend when watching his amazing performance. This time, though, it was alloyed with other emotions.
I was worried about where this left Force India. Now I'm sure Tonio Liuzzi is capable of performing reasonably well (assuming he gets the call, which common sense and, probably, his contract demands he does) and that Adrian can probably lead a team, but Monza looked like being a potential win for them and without Giancarlo I'm not sure Force India will be able to manage it. Whether it is simply a question of the eventual winner of that race having switched from one victory-capable car to another or someone else entirely will take the glory remains to be seen. However, there is no doubt in my mind that Force India will take a short-term set-back from all this.
They've handled the situation beautifully, with very kind words for everyone involved (except Ian Phillips, who jumped the gun a bit) and a willingness to ensure that negotiations over compensation do not mar the transfer. There's also a sweetness in them letting Fisi chase his dream rather than cause resentment by forcing him to stay put, as they would have been entitled to do.
Also, I was a bit sad because barring some quite strange events, Giancarlo's F1 racing career will end with the Abu Dhabi sunset. Yes, he'll be Ferrari's reserve driver next year and thus could be called up at any moment, but I don't really want his career to end at a point when I feel he's a better driver than ever... ...but the F1 paddock is ruthless and it's not entirely clear that Giancarlo would have had a race seat in 2010 even if he had rejected the Ferrari offer.
So overall I'm feeling a bit complicated about the whole thing, but the joy in seeing Giancarlo finally reach the aim of his career after all these years - and of seeing him so incredibly happy about it - is winning out. Monza will be a very emotional race for me and him, especially if he ends up the first Italian Ferrari driver to win there since 1966, in which case it will go down as the crowning glory of a long and honourable career.
Tomorrow I expect to manage to write a blog entry without mentioning Giancarlo. I know it's been his week in the limelight, but other stuff is starting to appear to possibly blow clouds across my currently-sunny mood.