I’m still on a bit of a high from the Jackie Stewart book signing last week and my inspired investigations into the Scot’s career tell the tale of a man who left the sport at exactly the right moment - at the pinnacle of success and in one piece. With his third world championship secured and with the death of his teammate and friend, Francois Cevert, at Watkins Glen fresh in his mind, Jackie retired from F1. That decision cemented Stewart as a legend in the sport.

Fast forward to the present and the announcement from Force India (the latest incarnation of Jordan F1) that they have signed Giancarlo Fisichella for two years. If ever there was someone in the sport today who should consider how helpful retirement would be to their reputation, its Fisichella.

While the Italian driver was at Minardi, Jordan, Bennetton, Jordan (again) and Sauber, people claimed Fisi was a champion in waiting who just needed a winning car. Pundits rated him amongst the top three racers in the sport. Of course, he finally landed a winning car in 2005 and 2006. So what happened? Well, Fisichella managed to win one race each year. Meanwhile, his teammate won 14 races and 2 world championships. By all accounts a pretty underwhelming performance.

So at 35, Fisichella has raced in twelve seasons of F1 - 196 races (nearly twice as many as Stewart -99) and is looking forward to another two years of racing at the very back of the grid. To what end? What will another two years of making up the numbers and touring around in circles provide? Instinctively I can say there won’t be wins or even podiums and there won’t be anymore talk of, “if only…” from the pundits.

What there will be is one more driver who believes he is entitled to his place in F1 and will stubbornly stay in the sport, only to deprive some young and talented rookie from starting his career. I believe everyone should get a chance at the brass ring and now Fisi has had his and missed. Its time to get off the merry-go-round that is F1 and give a youngster a chance.

Giancarlo, your contemporaries have moved on, voluntarily or not, and its time you did the same.

Really.

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