Fisi feels sorry for Badoer

Giancarlo Fisichella may be crowing about his newly-signed Ferrari deal but that doesn't mean he's forgotten the man he's replaced.

Ferrari confirmed on Thursday that Fisichella had been released from his Force India contract and would take the Scuderia's second race-seat for the remaining five races of the Championship.

Fisichella's joy has come at the expense of Luca Badoer, who had initially been chosen to replace the injured Felipe Massa.

But the Italian's failure to make an impact, except in adding the unfortunate benchmark of being the only Ferrari driver in history to qualify at the back of the grid in two successive races, saw his racing days come to an abrupt conclusion.

Fisichella, though, has some sympathy for his fellow Italian.

"I'm very sorry for Luca," said the 36-year-old Roman.

"I know how much he cared to race in Monza behind the wheel of a Ferrari, because this is the best thing that can happen to an Italian driver, to drive a red car in front of our fans."