Ferrari is expecting Giancarlo Fisichella to deliver valuable points for the team when he takes over as substitute driver for the injured Felipe Massa from the Italian Grand Prix.
The Maranello squad confirmed on Thursday that it had signed Fisichella for the remainder of the 2009 season, and team boss Stefano Domenicali is hoping the 36-year-old will significantly boost its chances of holding off the resurgent McLaren for third place in the constructors’ championship.
Fisichella highlighted his ability with a remarkable performance at Spa last weekend that saw him take pole position and almost win the race for the unheralded Force India team.
“We have chosen Fisichella because we think that he can make a valuable contribution in terms of points during the final part of this uncertain season,” said Domenicali.
“Giancarlo has shown, throughout his long career, that he is fast and competitive and we are therefore proud to be able to run an Italian driver in our home race.”
With Badoer having struggled at the back of the field in his two race outings as Massa’s stand-in, Ferrari concluded that it had to make a driver change before its home race at Monza.
But Domenicali emphasised that Badoer had faced an unenviable task in having to reacclimatise to F1 competition after a decade on the testing bench.
“We wish to thank Luca for the team spirit he demonstrated in these circumstances,” he said.
“It is a shame he was unable to show his true worth in these last two races, tackled under conditions which anyone would have found difficult.”
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