Italian Formula 1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella is considering a "very strong" offer to drive for Jordan in 2002. Fisichella's manager Gianpaolo Matteucci confirmed today that the Formula 1 team are interested in the Italian's services, although he has been offered a one-year deal by his current team, Benetton-Renault, to continue as their driver for next season.
Matteucci revealed that Fisichella has also been in talks with Arrows but that nothing has been finalised yet with any team. "At the moment we have three current offers. We have received an offer from Renault, one from Jordan, and there has been a discussion with Arrows. But we are waiting until midnight on Thursday, because that is the terms of the option from Benetton," he explained. "Giancarlo is very happy to remain with Benetton because we know them very well and we have a very strong emotional feeling there, but Renault is only offering one year."
Benetton-Renault have an option on current Jordan driver Jarno Trulli as well as Fisichella but Matteucci has denied that Trulli's future will play any part in the negotiations between Fisichella and Benetton or Jordan. "Jordan wants a strong driver line-up. Giancarlo and Jarno are the same, and at the moment Giancarlo has a lot of influence. Maybe it will be the two together," he added. The negotiations are expected to come to ahead in Hungary this weekend.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
