25/07/2004
NEWS STORY
Although he has never made any secret of the fact that his dream is to drive for his beloved Ferrari, Giancarlo Fisichella would also happily admit that a drive with any of the 'top' teams would be good.
After 134 Grands Prix, nine seasons and four teams, the little Italian still has one (fortuitous) victory to his credit, and a career best of sixth in the 2000 World Championship.
Rather than a lack of talent, Fisichella seems to suffer bad luck and, like many drivers before him, the tendency to be in the right team but at the wrong time.
This season, despite the limitations, the Italian has given a good account of himself, no less so than at Montreal, when a strong performance, coupled with good strategy, saw him finish fourth, while two weeks ago he finished a fine sixth at Silverstone.
Although a move to Maranello is not on the cards, in recent days he has been linked with a move to Renault, which bought out Benetton, the team he spent four seasons with (98-01), and also WilliamsF1. Both teams have the wherewithal to provide him with a race-winning car.
"I know I am high on the lists of those teams," he told reporters at Hockenheim, "but nothing is done at the moment. I hope to move to a top team and I hope to have a car to win for the future."
As far as WilliamsF1 is concerned, it's a straightforward decision that has to be agreed between the team and Fisichella. The move to Renault is a little more complicated.
It was widely expected that Jarno Trulli would remain to partner Fernando Alonso. However, a (slight) dip in form, together with what some sources claim to be excessive pay demands, have caused team boss Flavio Briatore to consider other options, namely Fisichella.
"There is no problem with Flavio," said the Roman, "we have a very good friendship, Last year, and this year, we usually have the boat in Sardinia and I go on his boat and stay with him and go to his discotheque with him."
He refused to say which team he would prefer to drive for, but admitted that both have a certain appeal.
"At the moment, the Renault is quicker," he said. "It's a stronger team than Williams and there it would be nice because I know most of the people.
"Williams are struggling a little bit," he continued, "but they have the potential to come back, like McLaren did. I think they are tough but if they are tough it is because they want to win and maybe the drivers are not concentrating.
"So I hope to have the choice to go there or there, but at the moment I am still focused on this race."
Despite the fact that he is hoping to move, Fisichella is still fiercely loyal to Sauber and proud of what he and the team have achieved this season.
"Sauber are a fantastic team, with a lot of professional people," he said. "Obviously, the performance of the car is much better now and I want to see this race and then the other one (Hungary) and then maybe I will make my decision.
"Maybe I could stay one more year."