Giancarlo Fisichella aims for the points in 2008!

The Italian driver Fisichella aims to score some points this 2008 season before stepping onto a podium in 2009 with the Force India team.

The Romanian left Renault at the end of last year to join the Indian team in extremis, which harbors great hopes for the 2008 season, thanks in particular to a larger budget.

The team, known as Spyker last year, scored only one point, but Fisichella has more ambitious goals for 2008.

« Having people like Mike Gascoyne and Mark Smith by his side is a very good guarantee, growing alongside them is an opportunity, » said Fisichella in Mumbai, India.

I still love F1 just as much, I feel young, and I want to continue racing. I want to achieve real results with the team, a number of points would be reasonable for 2008, and maybe a podium in 2009.

He added: « For now, I have a two-year contract, after that we’ll see. I’m 35 years old, but I still feel young, I’m in great shape, I’m happy to be participating in races and I want to compete in Grand Prix for a few more years. »

« I still feel as much pleasure, and the latest tests are encouraging for the future. We’ve made some changes to the car. We’ve taken a step forward, which is really encouraging. »

Fisichella acknowledges that the upcoming season is risky and perhaps difficult for the team, but the former Renault driver says he is very optimistic about the Force India project.

« Even at the end of the season, I did not expect to become a driver with the Force India team. I am really happy to be part of it and I am convinced by the project they are advancing. There is a bigger budget this year. »

« I know that the situation is likely to be difficult. The team’s last two seasons have been tough, but I think if we work well enough with the budget that has been made available to us, we can take a step forward, » concluded Giancarlo Fisichella.