Fisichella says 2009 a great opportunity

The Silverstone-based squad have secured Mercedes engines and a technical partnership with McLaren for next season.

The 2009 rules are likely to shake up the order and Fisichella believes his team, who struggled at the back of the field in 2008, could benefit from it.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Fisichella of 2009. "With the new rules it could all change, especially with the slick tyres, and different downforce levels.

"I think it's very important to build a good car for those rules, and to try to run as soon as possible with the new car with the slicks. With the new partnerships I think it's a great opportunity for us."

Force India failed to score any points in 2008, and Fisichella is adamant things are looking brighter for the team next year.

"We have a better chance than this year for sure, but nobody knows how things will work out with the new rules! We'll only see that in Australia," he added.

The veteran Italian also admitted he was not surprised by his team's disappointing season.

"It was a difficult season, and we knew it would be. Actually at the beginning of the season in some places we were very close to getting to the top 16 and also reasonably close to the points, quite close to manufacturer teams such as Honda and to other people. It was actually a tough season.

"We went in the right direction sometimes, but we lost a bit of direction later in the season, and in the last few races we stopped development of the 2008 car so it was very difficult to keep pushing."