Fisi hits back at Bernie

Ecclestone said that the 34-year-old Italian and fellow veteran Ralf Schumacher, who are both looking for a Force India drive next year, have not performed well enough recently and have no future in the sport.

But Fisichella, a three-time Grand Prix-winner, was incensed by those claims, made to German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, and hit back at "the daddy of Formula One" immediately.

"Like a father you have talked about your children, including me," Fisichella said.

"I wanted to remind you dear Daddy, I mean dear Bernie, that I am the one who won the first grand prix in Melbourne in 2005 with Renault and therefore I was the one who first discovered the R25 as a winning car.

"In the two seasons I spent alongside (Fernando) Alonso, in full agreement with the strategies of my team, I have contributed to two constructor titles, taking home the fourth place in the drivers' championship just like (Ferrari's Felipe) Massa this year."

Fisichella, who finished eighth in the championship this year, has been released by Renault and, like Schumacher, will test for Force India in Spain next week in the hope of securing a 13th season in Formula One.