Giancarlo Fisichella is now in his second F1 season with Force India (top) while back in 2003 he made a guest appearance for the factory N.Technology Alfa Romeo team at Monza but he crashed and destroyed the 156 GTA during practice (middle). He hopes to take over the seat in the #3 Ferrari currently occupied by Luca Badoer (bottom, during yesterday's Belgian Grand Prix).

Giancarlo Fisichella, who was the star of yesterday's Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps harrying Kimi Raikkonen all the way to the chequered flag, is poised to replace Luca Badoer in the second Ferrari at next month's Italian Grand Prix. Fisichella's temporary switch to the Scuderia could come as soon as tomorrow according BBC Sport which quoted a Ferrari source today.

Force India commercial director Ian Phillips also added fuel to the fire saying in a radio interview today: "We do expect a move will probably be made in the next twenty four hours or so. Nobody's asked us yet but I think it's pretty likely that somebody will make a phone call to (Force India team boss) Vijay Mallya over the next twenty four hours or so asking if we would release him to Ferrari. Ferrari being Ferrari, it's their home race at Monza, which is a place with a cauldron-like atmosphere, particularly for the Italians, seats will be thrown on the track if Ferrari aren't doing well. So they're going to have to put somebody in there who can basically run around with Raikkonen at the front of the field. I don't think they [Force India] have really got any options [but to release him]," Phillips told Radio 5.

However Force India hit back later this afternoon with a statement denying that Fisichella would be released for Monza: "Force India Formula One Team would like to clarify some reports that have appeared in a section of the press a little while ago with regard to Giancarlo Fisichella. During a press conference via telephone shortly after the team’s podium finish, in response to specific and repeated questions on the subject, Fisichella has himself clarified that he has ‘not received any invitation from Ferrari’ and went on to add that ‘he was looking forward to driving the Force India car at the Monza GP’. There has been absolutely no change whatsoever on this front since yesterday and we look forward to Fisichella scorching the tracks at Monza. Ian Philips’ comments do not reflect the views of the Force India Formula One Team Management since he is not the designated spokesperson for the team nor is he authorised to speak to the media. His comments should therefore be ignored. We completely deny as baseless, whatever is reportedly attributed to him in reports that have appeared in a section of the press a short while ago," the Force India press release concluded.

Luca Badoer, who was promoted to Felipe Massa's seat in the #3 F60 for the last two grands prix in Valencia and Belgium has failed to perform satisfactorily, qualifying right at the back of the grid in both races and trailing home at Spa yesterday in last place. It is believed that Ferrari has lost patience with their test driver who before his two outings this month had last raced in a grand prix ten years ago. "With regard with what we are going to do for the next races we will tell you in the next three days," said Ferrari Team Principal Stefano Domenicali yesterday.

36-year-old Giancarlo Fisichella is a now a veteran driver having started 224 grands prix since he made his F1 debut in Australia in 1996 behind the wheel of a Minardi M195B. In the last 12 seasons the Italian has driven for Benetton, Renault, Sauber, Jordan (where he won his first race in 2003) and for the last two years for Force India, claiming three career wins in total as well as four pole positions and amassing 275 points. He also took time out of his single-seater career in 1995 and 1996 to drive Alfa Romeo's legendary 155 V6 TI racer in the DTM/ITC series (in the latter year he was also a test driver for Ferrari) while a one-off appearance for the factory N.Technology Alfa Romeo team in the 2003 European Touring Car Championship's Monza round resulted in irreparable damage to the car after a crash during practice that scuppered his race day appearance. Since the beginning of last year Fisichella has struggled in the uncompetitive tail ender team Force India; however over the last weekend the Silverstone-based team, which started life as the Jordan team, has experienced a dramatic upturn in fortunes and the Italian claimed pole position at Spa-Francorchamps before chasing the Belgian Grand Prix winner Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen all the way to the chequered flag to earn the team its first points of the year.

Domenicali added yesterday that the decision on who would drive at Monza would be decided in the next few days. "We are going to take all into consideration. It depends how the medical check-up that Felipe will do tomorrow, and then we will put on the table all the different things. And then we will make a decision."

Meanwhile Luca di Montezemolo called Domenicali immediately after the Belgian GP and was a very satisfied man. "I’m very content with this victory," said the Ferrari Chairman on the official website of the Prancing Horse. "I’m happy for Domenicali, for the whole Team and for our fans. Over the last four grands prix, starting with the Nürburgring, we have always been on the podium. Kimi drove an excellent race, demonstrating his talent on the most beautiful track of the championship. They really made me a nice present for my birthday."