AnGuRuSO
Well-Known Member
I don't understand, why would Red Bull pay for Liuzzi's testing seat?
Rodriguez reveals: Force India signed Fisichella
09 January 2008
Roldan Rodriguez has confirmed the Force India Formula 1 team has signed Giancarlo Fisichella instead of the him. Rodriguez has always said he was close to becoming Force India's second driver, but on the day before the official announcement was scheduled he revealed the team's decision.
Force India had already confirmed Adrian Sutil for the upcoming season, but the identity of the team's second race driver and test driver were being held under wraps until Thursday's press conference in India.
Fisichella has been rumoured to become Force India's driver since his final test for the team at Jerez in December, but had yet to be confirmed. The scheduled press conference has now been spoiled by Rodriguez who said he could not compete against someone like Fisichella for the Force India F1 seat.
Rodriguez said: "My future is now very clear. We've always kept in the back of our mind that as soon as Fisichella was replaced by Nelson Piquet it would be difficult for me and now he is the chosen one. For me it is impossible to compete with someone who has contested over 200 races. The team decided to go for experience instead of a young driver."
"I am still growing as a driver and it is now very likely that I will compete another season in the GP2 series," e added.
Rodriguez was Force India's test driver in November and December.
Wurz joins Honda
10 January 2008
The Honda Formula 1 team announced on Thursday that they have signed Alexander Wurz as the team's new test driver. Wurz will join Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello at the Brackley based team.
Wurz left the Williams F1 team one race before the end of the 2007 F1 season and it was thought his F1 career was finished. The Austrian surprised a few when he was announced as Honda's test and reserve driver.
Wurz will commence his testing role with the Honda Racing F1 Team on Tuesday 22 January in Valencia, joining Jenson and Rubens at the Spanish circuit for the team's first test of the year. He will spend this test acclimatising to the team, its systems and last year's RA107 to provide a reference for his onward development role. The race drivers will be at the wheel of the team's new RA108 challenger, which will run in its interim colours in advance of the team's technical and livery launch at its Brackley headquarters on 29 January.
Commenting on his new role with Honda, Alex Wurz said, "I am delighted to be joining the Honda Racing F1 Team at the beginning of what I hope can be a very exciting period for the team. Honda has such a rich history of success in motorsport and it is a real honour to be part of a team that has racing right at the core of its operation.
"This is an excellent opportunity to play an important role in the development of the team going forward. My three previous teams have all been world championship winners and I hope to be able to contribute to Honda's ambitions. The chance to work with one of the best brains in F1 in Ross Brawn is very exciting, as is the level of resources that the Honda team has at its disposal. I am also looking forward to working with Jenson and Rubens, two drivers who I know very well, and I'm sure we will form a very successful partnership over the coming weeks. For now, my immediate focus is on getting back in a Formula One car in Valencia and starting work with the team."
Red_Bull said:I'm glad Mallya has gone for Fisichella who is a talented driver and proven race winner. I think he could be very good for the team, perhaps take on a David Coulthard sort of role in helping the team develop as well as assisting Sutil with fine-tuning his racecraft. It's good that Mallya hasn't just gone for an Indian driver with a big wallet - it shows he is serious about this effort.
Force India + 1
^^Before he does that, he'll have to bring the team into the 21st century...