Force India releases Fisi, no 'financial settlement' involved

New Delhi, Sep 3 (PTI) After four days of vehement
denial, Force India Thursday announced that its Italian driver
Giancarlo Fisichella is joining Ferrari with immediate effect,
while also insisting that there was no financial settlement
involved in his move.

Force India chairman Vijay Mallya said following
extensive discussions over the past 24 hours, the outfit
agreed to release Fisichella with "immediate effect" from his
contract to join Ferrari for the remainder of 2009 season

"Giancarlo and his management team approached me
yesterday with a 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 his way.

"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," he said.

He said the team would soon name Fisichella's replacement
though test driver Tonio Liuzzi is tipped for the vacant slot.

Since Fisichella finished second in Belgian Grand Prix,
Formula One paddock was abuzz with reports of his move to
Ferrari but both the driver and Mallya himself had denied the
reports, calling them 'media rumours'.

There were reports that Force India owed money to Ferrari
for using their engine last season and Fisichella's move would
wipe out the debt but Mallya insisted there was no financial
consideration involved. (More) PTI AY
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