With life taking place with a European clock for the only night race on the calendar, at the time when he would usually be leaving the track, Giancarlo Fisichella sat down to meet the media on the eve of the Singapore Grand Prix. “I’m feeling much more confident and relaxed now,” confided the Roman. “Monza was a tough weekend for me, especially because I was so nervous if also excited, when I got in the cockpit on that first Friday. But since completing a whole race distance and spending more time in the simulator and driving at the aerodynamic test in Vairano, I am now much more at ease. Now, I’m looking forward to this weekend, because I like this circuit. Also, with the higher level of downforce we need to run here, I think it will be better for me and give me more confidence in the car. I am keen to start driving tomorrow.”

Apart from getting used to a new car and a new team, Monza was also Giancarlo’s first experience with KERS. “The KERS was hard to adapt to,” he admitted., “But I was able to practice using it and experiencing it in the simulator last week. At Monza, I lost maybe a couple of tenths a lap because of concentrating on operating the KERS, but I expect it to be easier from now on. I am sure KERS will be useful on this track, but we will have to wait and see if we need to play with the weight distribution on the car to get it working at its best. The simulation seems to suggest we should be okay here, although of course, we have now stopped developing the F60, to concentrate on next year’s car. But in Valencia, Kimi was very competitive and as we will have the same level of downforce here, I think we should be alright to have a good race on Sunday. My aim this weekend is to get into the final top ten part of qualifying and then to score points in the race, finishing as close as possible to Kimi.”

Fisichella also clarified his situation regarding 2010: “I have a contract to be the third driver for the team next year and if there is any other team interested in having me as a race driver, then we will discuss with Ferrari if this will be possible. I would like to race, but I’m not sure if I would want to start again with a new team – but with a good team, then why not? But let’s wait and see and Ferrari will decide.”

Finally, he was asked if had received one of the best privileges of working for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, a Ferrari road car. “No, not at the moment,” he laughed. “But I used to own a 360 Modena, so maybe I will get another one now!”