Giancarlo Fisichella

Another driver that cut his teeth in karting, Giancarlo Fisichella graduated to racing single-seaters in 1992 when he joined the Italian Formula 3 grid aged 19. He stayed in F3 for three seasons and in 1994 won 10 races, including the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix-supporting round, to become Champion. His first taste of F1 was as a test driver for Minardi in 1995 while also competing in the now defunct ITC Championship. In 1996 Minardi called him up to drive in eight Grands Prix, and the following year he signed a full-time contract with Jordan; finishing eighth in the Championship with two podiums in Canada and Belgium that season. He moved to Benetton in ...

Poor old Giancarlo. He has been with poorly running teams since he came to the sport. First it was Minardi who took his skills. They nurtured him as he consistantly came last in the races. Then his talent was realised and Eddie Jordan rescued him and put him in the Jordan alongside Ralf Schumacher. This was not a marriage made in heaven as Ralf was guilty of Pushing poor Giancarlo off on a couple of occasions. Not the best thing to do to your team mate. Then, as Jordan was improving, he moved to Benetton to replace Jean Alesi just as Benetton were going down the pan. Can he revive the fortunes of the team? Not with Alex Wurz in the Number 2 seat!!! ...

Giancarlo is one of the better drivers in Formula 1, and is a master of the wet conditions. He has shown this twice, in Germany this year and Austria in 1998, in the qualifying sessions, the latter where he scored his first pole position. After a promising start to this season, his season has gone downhill. After being with Jordan in his first 'real' year in Formula 1, after Minardi, his performances with Benetton have not shown what a good racing driver he is. With Renault and a probable team mate as Jenson Button, next year and the year after will see him leap to the next stage and then he could be a potential champ. ...