Mallya: No Ferrari Fisichella talk yet

Fisichella is clear favourite to become Kimi Raikkonen's team-mate at Ferrari until Felipe Massa is well enough to return - although a final decision rests on the outcome of the medical examination that Massa is having in Miami today.

Once news on Massa's condition is in, Ferrari will then decide what it wants to do - with a deal likely to take place within the next 24 hours.

Although well aware of the rumours surrounding Fisichella, Mallya declined to elaborate on what he would do if Ferrari came calling for his driver.

"I can't comment," he said. "Ferrari hasn't come to me, Fisichella hasn't come to me. His manager hasn't come to me. This is all speculation.

"Fisichella has been part and parcel of the team. His experience has helped the engineers enormously in the development of the car and he's a very valuable member of my team.

"I'm sure he's very proud and pleased with his own performance in Belgium, and the car that we have given him to drive."

AUTOSPORT understands that Force India still has outstanding debts with Ferrari as a hangover from its customer engine deal, and it is not clear what influence these will have on any negotiations between the two teams regarding Fisichella.