| GIANCARLO FISICHELLA |
| Along with Nick Heidfeld, Giancarlo would be a good nomination for the title of Most Underrated Grand Prix driver. This time last year everyone was touting Jenson Button as the next big thing. He moved to Benetton and was expected to wipe the floor with his older and more experienced teammate. Giancarlo had other ideas. Out of 17 races he managed to outqualify button thirteen times. His average grid placing was 15.2 compared with Jenson's 16.9 and over the course of the season he outqualified Jenson by a massive 8.57seconds one of the largest margins on the grid. His performances in races were also consistenly better and he scored six more points than Jenson, which wouldn't be enourmous if he drove for Ferrari but as it was a 2001 Benetton, which managed a total of 10 constructors points it rather sticks out. Which is why we fiind it slightly difficult to understand why Flavio Britore has taken a decision to offload Fisichella to Jordan, that well known scrapyard for also-rans. Jordan appears to either harbour drivers just as they start and then lose them to a better team as soon as they show any signs of greatness, (e.g Michael and Ralf Schumacher) or take them on once they've passed their peak and are no longer serious contenders for any major honours (Jean Alesi, Heinz-Harold Frentzen, Damon Hill) We hope that Giancarlo doesn't fall into the latter of these characters - he deserves better, and he doesn't really fall into the first - because he's already been a Jordan driver once before they lost him to Benetton We wish him luck but realistically he's probably heading for a frustrating season in a team that will be as usual just not quite good enough. He could be forgiven for being a bit annoyed it's him heading for Jordan rather than a certain Mr J Button. |