Giancarlo Fisichella | |
---|---|
Born | Rome, Italy | 14 January 1973
Spouse |
Luna Castellani (m. 2009) |
Children | 3 |
Family | Fisichella family |
Formula One World Championship career | |
Nationality | Italian |
Active years | 1996–2009 |
Teams | Minardi, Jordan, Benetton, Sauber, Renault, Force India, Ferrari |
Entries | 231 (229 starts) |
Championships | 0 |
Wins | 3 |
Podiums | 19 |
Career points | 275 |
Pole positions | 4 |
Fastest laps | 2 |
First entry | 1996 Australian Grand Prix |
First win | 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix |
Last win | 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix |
Last entry | 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
FIA World Endurance Championship career | |
Racing licence | FIA Platinum |
Years active | 2012–2022 |
Teams | AF Corse, Iron Lynx |
Starts | 45 |
Championships | 0 |
Wins | 7 |
Podiums | 15 |
Poles | 1 |
Fastest laps | 1 |
Best finish | 2nd in 2013 (LMGTE Pro) |
24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
Years | 2010–2022 |
Teams | AF Corse, Risi, Iron Lynx |
Best finish | 13th (2011, 2014) |
Class wins | 2 (2012, 2014) |
Giancarlo Fisichella (Italian pronunciation: [dʒaŋˈkarlo fiziˈkɛlla]; born 14 January 1973), also known as Fisico, Giano or Fisi, is an Italian racing driver and motorsport executive, who competed in Formula One from 1996 to 2009. Fisichella won three Formula One Grands Prix across 14 seasons.
Born and raised in Rome, Fisichella is a member of the noble Fisichella family of Sicily. Fisichella competed in Formula One for Minardi, Jordan, Benetton, Sauber, Renault, Force India and Ferrari. He was also the reserve driver for Ferrari in 2010. Fisichella took his maiden win at the chaotic 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix, a race abandoned for safety reasons with 15 laps remaining. After several days of confusion regarding rules and technicalities, Fisichella was eventually declared the winner in the following week, and collected his trophy in an unofficial ceremony at the following race. He was brought into the Renault team to replace fellow Italian Jarno Trulli, and won his first race with the team in Australia in 2005. However, after that race it was his teammate, the Spanish driver Fernando Alonso, that would win the greater share of races for Renault. Although highly rated as a driver, Fisichella was unable to keep pace with eventual champion Alonso, managing just one further race win following his debut. However, his best finishes also helped Renault win back-to-back Constructors' titles from 2005 to 2006.
Outside of Formula One, Fisichella has driven for AF Corse at various sportscar racing events, becoming a two-time class winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as a class winner at Petit Le Mans. Beyond driving, Fisichella founded FMS International in 2005, managing the team in the GP2 Series until 2009.