Fisichella Sets Sights Higher after Points Finish

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was delighted to be back in the points at last after a barren start to the season with his new Sauber team - and predicted, after the Spanish Grand Prix race, that they were now ready to become stronger and more successful.

Fisichella raced to seventh at the Circuit de Catalunya to score his first two points of 2004 and admitted the result had boosted his and Sauber's confidence and lifted his hopes for success in Monte Carlo in two weeks' time.

"I am very happy," he said. "We made some progress in the race at Imola and now we have made some more here in this race. If we keep on going, we will get stronger and stronger."

The 30-year-old Roman, who is a Monaco resident, won last year's Brazilian Grand Prix for Jordan-Ford in rain-soaked and controversial circumstances, following an appeal, and finished seventh at Indianapolis in the United States Grand Prix.

They were his previous two points finishes before Sunday's breakthrough for the Swiss Sauber team - a result that has enabled him to break his 'duck' for the team and predict further successes.

"We made a very good choice with the strategy and there was a good balance," he said. "It wasn't so easy because there was a lot of fuel, but I was very consistent and we scored points at last which is very, very important for us.

"It is very important for us to push and work now, especially in the wind-tunnel. We had a few new components here and the car is better now. It was good all the way through in this race. When we were running close with Montoya, I was much quicker than him.

"I am not sure if he had a problem or something like that, but I was able to stay ahead of him quite easily. My only problems were with the traffic that had been lapped. That is all. I lost a bit of time there, maybe without that I could have been sixth in this race.

"But there has been a real improvement - so, if we can keep going in this direction, then we can do well in the future because the potential is very good."

Given his talent on the streets of the Mediterranean principality, where he has often been sensational in qualifying, it was no surprise to learn that Fisichella is looking ahead to the Monaco Grand Prix with great relish.

"I am very confident, physically and mentally, now," he said. "And it is my favourite circuit. So, I am sure that we can score some more points there."

Many experienced observers in the paddock will wish the luckless Italian good fortune in Monaco because he has always suggested he has the speed and natural talent to become an outstanding driver.

Team chief Peter Sauber said: "We won these two points fair and square and that is a great achievement for us. It is a fantastic feeling. Our race performance was really good and encouraging. Both drivers were strong and so was the strategy.

"Giancarlo drove just as we knew he could. When I signed him, I knew what a talented driver he was - very fast and very talented. This was good for him and very good for the team."