Fisichella confident about VJM01 potential

The Silverstone-based squad have been testing with last year's B-spec car, introduced late in the 2007 season, as they continue working on their 2009 machine.

Fisichella reckons the current car, the VJM01, has potential to help the team move forward.

"Since I first drove the car, we've made significant steps forward, especially in the car's set-up," Fisichella was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport. "The Force India has potential and there will be new aerodynamics already at the Barcelona test.

"The budget is adequate, there's the structure, and the right people. The 2009 car is already under development. I want to grow with this team and to carry on racing in F1 for a few more years.

"(The objective is) to make the car gradually improve from the last rows, where we'll obviously be at the beginning."

Fisichella joined Force India following three years at Renault, and the Roman admits he was hoping to stay at the French squad as a reward for his work.

"Flavio (Briatore) has a love called Alonso," he said. "For what I gave I was counting on (a contract extension), and with Alonso we could have re-build the dream team from 2005 and 2006. Instead they chose Piquet: that's politics."