Fisico hits back at 'dear daddy Bernie'

Giancarlo Fisichella has hit back at Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone. In an interview with Auto Moto und Sport, that was published on the official Formula1 website as well, Ecclestone declared that both Fisichella and Ralf Schumacher should consider retiring from the pinnacle of motorsport.

Ecclestone said: "Both have been for quite a time in decent teams and should have performed better than they had. They ought to give very serious consideration whether it makes sense to move into a less competitive environment. Maybe if they change teams, they'll get a bit of a wake-up call."

Ecclestone made the comments only a day after the newly renamed Force India F1 Team officially announced that both Fisichella and Schumacher will be testing for the team at Jerez.

Today, on his official website, Giancarlo Fisichella has hit back at the Formula One supremo:

"Dear Bernie,

I read with interest your interview in Auto Moto und Sport, faithfully published by your own web site. You are the father of Formula One and like a father you have talked about your children, including me. I wanted to remind you dear daddy, I mean dear Bernie, that I am the one who won the first Grand Prix in Melbourne in 2005 with Renault and therefore I was the one who first discovered the R25 as a winning car. In the two seasons I spent alongside Alonso, in full agreement with the strategies of my Team, I have contributed to two constructor titles, taking home the fourth place in the drivers’championship, just like Massa this year. Given the circumstances I believe I could not do any better. In 2007 Renault promised me a championship winning car, but this has not been the case and for this I did not get demoralized! Next week, in fact, I will bring my enthusiasm and my experience to Force India, a young team with an “old heart” just like Giancarlo Fisichella who has still some talent to show!

Giancarlo Fisichella."