FISICHELLA VOTES FOR FERRARI

Giancarlo Fisichella has come out and said that Ferrari are the clear favourites to win the F1 title this year after their strong showings in the recent pre season testing sessions.Ferrari has spent the last two weeks away from Mclaren's testing at Jerez and Fisichella insisted that Ferrari are looking stronger of the two teams."This year the Cavallino is clearly the team to beat and then it is McLaren," Fisichella told Gazetta dello Sport, referring to Ferrari's Prancing Horse logo.

"The Ferrari is definitely ahead. And then it's the McLaren with the others behind."

As for his own prospects, Fisi reckons it's going take a bit of an adjustment lapping at the back of the field but the Roman is confident Force India will improve as the season progresses.

FISICHELLA BATS FOR FORCE INDIA

Giancarlo Fisichella has insisted that his team of Force India are not there to wind up at the rear of the grid and will be there giving competitions to all the other experienced teams at the start of the season.He also insisted that he got offers from Renault and Sauber to be their test driver but he flatly refused the offers saying that he was a racer and wants to win badly.He said that he did not know Vijay Mallya for too long and he was looking forward to establish a proffesional relationship with him.He was very confident that the Force India team would do very well in the coming races of this season.

FISICHELLA JOINS FORCE INDIA

Giancarlo Fisichella has joined the Force India team which was formed by Kingfisher baron Vijay Mallya.Giancarlo Fisichella will partner Adrian Sutil when Force India make their Formula One debut this season.

The team are in its fourth incarnation having previously started life as Jordan, before becoming Midland, followed by Spyker.

But at the end of last season, Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya, in partnership with Dutch entrepreneur Michiel Mol, completed a successful buy-out of Spyker.

After running the rule over a number of drivers in test sessions at Barcelona and Jerez towards the end of last year, Mallya has opted for Fisichella and Sutil, with Tonio Liuzzi as reserve.

For Fisichella, who was released by Renault after a disappointing 2007 in which he finished eighth in the drivers' championship, it will be his 13th season in Formula One.

"At the test in Jerez I was very impressed with the team's professionalism and commitment to move forward and I hope that my experience will help them achieve these goals," said Fisichella, who celebrates his 35th birthday on Monday.

"Contrary to what people think, this was not my only opportunity but it was the best one.

"With new owners and a competitive budget, I really think we can shake things up next year.

"I feel motivated and ready to help Force India get points on a regular basis."

Mallya, who is chairman and managing director of the team, insists Force India will not be in Formula One next season just to make up the numbers.

"The Force India Formula One team is a serious project and we wanted to make a statement to this effect with our driver line-up," said Mallya.

"Money is not the issue now: we need drivers who will push the team and give us direction.

"The race line-up of Giancarlo and Adrian is a very good one, balancing both speed and experience, and Tonio will provide the team with solid support in his testing programme."