Things just seem to be heading up for Giancarlo Fisichella this week. Just four days after his first podium finish in a Force India F1 race car, the Italian was called up by Scuderia Ferrari to take the place of a dismal Luca Badoer till the end of the season. With five races to go, Badoer’s accident during the qualifying session ruled him out for the remainder of the season, leaving a space open for the Italian to take up.
Both Ferrari and Force India confirmed the move on thursday after numerous rounds of negotiations and discussions.
“I’m in seventh heaven,” said Fisichella on Ferrari’s website. “I still can’t believe it - that the dream of my life comes true, and I want to thank Ferrari and Chairman Luca di Montezemolo.
“Over the last week some really incredible things happened to me: the pole position and then second place at Spa and now I’m called by Ferrari to race the last five races of the season for them.
“I’ll give my best to recompense the Scuderia for this great opportunity they gave me: I know that it won’t be easy, but I’ll give it everything to gain the best possible results.”
Fisichella will become the first Italian race driver to sit in a Ferrari car for the Italian Grand Prix since Ivan Capelli in 1992. “We chose Giancarlo, because we think that he can make a significant contribution in terms of points during the finale of this uncertain season,” said Stefano Domenicali.
“Furthermore we considered what could be his role inside the team in the near future, also taking this year’s experiences into account. He will be the reserve driver in 2010. I want to thank Vijay Mallya and Force India F1 for giving Giancarlo the possibility to cancel his contract in such a happy moment for the team, allowing him to crown his dream as a driver. 
“Now we have to concentrate on Monza, an event we really care for in a very special way: we know that it will be difficult to keep the performance level we had over the last grand prix, but we’ll give our best to entertain our fans and I hope there will be lots of them at the track to support us.”
Dr. Vijay Mallaya, owner of the Force India team said, “Giancarlo and his management team approached me yesterday with the proposal from Ferrari. For any Italian driver, a Ferrari race seat is a long-held dream and for Giancarlo it was no exception.
“No one should stand in the way of this. Furthermore the agreement will secure Giancarlo’s long-term future with Ferrari and it would be incorrect to jeopardise this, particularly when Giancarlo has made such a vital contribution to Force India.”
Mallaya also mentioned that there was no financial agreement or settlement with Ferrari and that Fisichella’s contract was simply terminated. “This agreement has been made in good faith and for the good of Giancarlo and the sport in general. A competitive Italian driver in a Ferrari for Monza is a positive story for Formula 1, which can only help raise the sport’s profile in these difficult times.
“We would like to thank Giancarlo for all his help over the past one and a half seasons and for delivering us our first World Championship points last weekend.
“He has been an integral part of the team and we owe him a great deal for his input behind the scenes and performance out on track. We wish him all the best for the future.”