Giancarlo Fisichella responded to Bernie Ecclestone’s “advice” to leave Formula One, writing an open letter on his official website.

The letter said:

Dear Bernie,

I read with interest your interview in Auto Moto und Sport, faithfully published by your own web site. You are the father of Formula One and like a father you have talked about your children, including me. I wanted to remind you dear daddy, I mean dear Bernie, that I am the one who won the first Grand Prix in Melbourne in 2005 with Renault and therefore I was the one who first discovered the R25 as a winning car. In the two seasons I spent alongside Alonso, in full agreement with the strategies of my Team, I have contributed to two constructor titles, taking home the fourth place in the drivers’ championship, just like Massa this year. Given the circumstances I believe I could not do any better. In 2007 Renault promised me a championship winning car, but this has not been the case and for this I did not get demoralized! Next week, in fact, I will bring my enthusiasm and my experience to Force India, a young team with an “old heart” just like Giancarlo Fisichella who has still some talent to show!


Fisichella did what few people would do, he stud up to Ecclestone’s accusations. I think that if a team, any team, would offer Fisichella a chance next season he will demonstrate anyone who doubts him that hi’s not to “old” for Formula One. His test in Jerez for Force India will be very important and will definitely decide his future. And if Fisichella and the other “old” driver that Ecclestone advised to quit F1, Ralf Schumacher, will manage to obtain good times in Jerez, it’s possible to see next year a “new team with two old drivers” competing in Formula One.