Italian racing driver Giancarlo Fisichella had a successful career in Formula 1, participating in 229 Grand Prix races from 1996 to 2009. Throughout his time in the sport, Fisichella achieved 19 podium finishes and secured victory on three occasions. He represented various teams including Benetton, Renault, Jordan, Force India, Sauber, Minardi, and Ferrari. Fisichella had the opportunity to work alongside 14 different teammates during his tenure.
Recently, I had the privilege of conducting a 10-minute, one-on-one Zoom interview with Fisichella, who, despite being 51 years old, appeared to be in excellent physical condition and bore a striking resemblance to his days as an F1 driver. Unfortunately, the limited time frame did not allow for an in-depth conversation, which is a shame considering the wealth of stories and experiences he possesses.
Nevertheless, within the allocated time, we delved into some of the most pressing topics in the world of Formula 1, including discussions about Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and even a nod to Flavio Briatore.
During the early 2000s, Fisichella had the privilege of being Alonso’s teammate when the Spaniard clinched consecutive F1 titles with Renault. Reflecting on their time together, Fisichella fondly stated, “First and foremost, Fernando is not only my friend but also a genuinely kind person. We were teammates in 2005 and 2006, and those were truly fantastic seasons for both of us. We secured the F1 driver’s championship and the F1 constructors championship in back-to-back years.”
He continued, “Our collaboration was exceptional. We worked harmoniously as a team, constantly discussing our telemetry and sharing insights to ensure we were moving in the right direction. Our aim was to provide valuable feedback to the engineers, aiding in the improvement and development of our car. It was a tremendously rewarding experience for both of us.”
When asked about Alonso’s enduring success and remarkable performance at the age of 42, Fisichella expressed his lack of surprise, stating, “I expected nothing less from Fernando, given his extraordinary speed and consistent race pace. Even at 42, he remains one of the finest drivers in the world.”
He further elaborated, “At the beginning of last season, with a competitive car, he showcased incredible skills. Admittedly, the rest of the season proved to be more challenging for him due to the Aston Martin team’s ongoing development, which placed them slightly behind the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari. Nevertheless, Fernando’s prowess on the race track is truly remarkable.”
In the realm of Red Bull’s superstar Verstappen, echoing the sentiments of his peers regarding the Red Bull triple F1 world champion, Fischella exclaimed, “Wow. Max is extraordinary!”
With a smile, the 51-year-old Roman added, “I never competed alongside him. I raced alongside his father [Jos]. Yeah, I believe Max has the potential to become a multiple-time F1 world champion, perhaps even surpassing the records set by Schumacher and Hamilton. He’s truly exceptional.
“What I can attest to is his uniqueness; he is phenomenal in qualifying. When he embarked on his career, he possessed raw speed, but he made errors. Now, he is rapid in qualifying and flawless in races. He’s nearly flawless. You know, he’s astonishing. I foresee him being World Champion for many more years,” predicted Fisichella.
As for Fisichella’s own breakthrough in F1 over two decades ago, he reminisced about the influence of Briatore, who, at the time, managed the team as well as their star Alonso: “Flavio played a pivotal role in my career. I met him during my first year in Formula 1 with Minardi. At the conclusion of the 1996 season, I had a conversation with him.
“Afterwards, I underwent a significant test, which yielded favorable results. I matched Jean Alesi’s pace and performed exceptionally well over long distances. Immediately after the test, I visited the factory and promptly signed a five-year contract with Benetton and Briatore,” he revealed.
“The initial season saw Alesi and [Gerhard] Berger as the Benetton drivers, and they provided me with the opportunity to race for Jordan in 1997. From 1988 to 2001, I competed for Benetton,” thanks to Flavio, no doubt.
The inevitable question for Fisichella was about Lewis Hamilton’s potential move to Ferrari…
Without hesitation, Fisi responded, “It’s fantastic. Initially, I thought the news a few weeks ago was fake. But it turned out to be true! This is incredible for Ferrari and the Italian people.
“After spending many years in Formula 1 with Mercedes, a seven-time world champion is not nearing the end of his career, even at 39, and he desires to race for Ferrari. As you know, Ferrari has been a dream for every driver since we were young. It was always my dream.
“And I believe it’s the same for every driver. So, it’s unbelievable news. And I think Lewis and Charles Leclerc will thrive together at Ferrari,” predicted Fisichella, who concluded his F1 career with five races as a Ferrari driver. (Interview made possible by OLBG)
According to the Source grandprix247.com