Fisichella's Knee Operation - Next Week

Italian Formula One driver Giancarlo Fisichella will have his knee operation next week and will not test for Benetton until the New Year, the British-based team said on Thursday.

It said that 27-year-old Fisichella had an x-ray and examination on Monday and was found to have a "tibial micro fracture to his right knee."

"He will therefore undergo surgery consisting of an arthroscopy intervention on December 18," Benetton said in a statement.

"He will not take part in the Estoril test (in Portugal) from 18-21 December but will be fit for a pre-season training camp in Lanzarote starting on January 2."

A team spokeswoman said he would need 10 days of physiotherapy after the minor keyhole surgery but was expected to be back testing in January.

Benetton said the exact cause of Fisichella's injury was unclear but it might have been linked to accidents he had in testing at Monza and Valencia towards the end of last season.

Fisichella scored 18 of Benetton's 20 points in 2000, helping the team finish in fourth place overall. Briton Jenson Button, who has moved on loan from Williams, is currently testing with the team in Spain.