The last couple of Grands Prix were frustrating for Giancarlo Fisichella, but he did find some reasons in the last month to be happy about. For example, messages he received from Atlas F1 readers. For example, the opportunity to relax with his daughter. For example, the chance to play for Manchester United... This is how it looks through Fisico's visor...

It gives me much pleasure and encouragement to see that you are enjoying my column on Atlas F1, and I thank you for your kind messages. It was interesting to read that some of you wonder why I have not been offered a drive with one of the top three teams, and in fact I was asked a similar question by a group of journalists during the British Grand Prix weekend. My reply to this is: you need to ask them.

I believe I am capable of getting results and I am thankful to Jordan Grand Prix for believing in me. I won't deny of course that I get frustrated at times: I love winning. Throughout my motor racing career I have won races - winning motivates me - but I have yet to win a Grand Prix. I am determined to achieve this, and I really hope to win my first one with Jordan soon: it will give me even more satisfaction knowing that I've done it with Eddie's team.

Another question that comes up in your messages was about driving for Ferrari. Well, this is something that every Italian driver dreams of, and it was reported to me that Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo thinks I am one of the best drivers in Formula One, so I believe that if the situation becomes possible in the future, I might get to realize my Italian dream.

I was also asked whether I thought Michael Schumacher had in the past influenced the decision not to make me an offer, but in all honesty I don't believe that this is the case. Besides, I don't think Michael owns Ferrari. Also, there is huge media pressure from the Italian press on Ferrari and anyone who drives for them. But this doesn't scare me: I believe I have become mentally strong, especially through the hard times of last year at Benetton, and would not have a problem coping with it, if it ever happened.

I am young, so there is plenty of time for me to fulfill this Red Ambition. One thing is clear, though: I would never sign any contract as a test driver - I am a racing driver, and I really believe that going through tough times, never giving up, and always doing my best, pays off in the end. We will have to wait and see, but for now this is not an issue I think about: it's more important for me right now to give Jordan good results and wins!

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I felt sure that we could continue our point-scoring finishes for my hundreth Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. As it turned out, it is one race that I want to forget about. Circumstances were not quite right from the beginning - for one thing when I arrived at the circuit on Thursday I was not feeling that great as I was suffering from the effects of a high temperature. I also had more difficulty than normal trying to find a good balance with my car in practice and qualifying. However, during first practice I was running a high fuel load and concentrating on race set-up work, so my seventeenth position did not reflect the true picture.

I was still optimistic that my engineers and I could find a good balance for qualifying and the race. But when it was time for qualifying I discovered that I still had quite a lot of understeer in the slow corners and the car felt very nervous at high speed. I was very frustrated that we couldn't find a better balance, especially as we were running with the new step Honda engine, enabling me to use more revs. So to qualify down in eighteenth position was a big disappointment.

I felt much happier with the balance in the morning warm-up and posted seventh fastest time just behind Takuma Sato. Even so, I knew the race would be tough, but just how tough I could never have imagined!

When the lights went out I made a good start but unfortunately as the grid bunched up going into the first corner I touched the back of Takuma's car and we both spun. I had to pit for a new front wing but by then I also had sustained damage to the suspension, which was not immediately noticeable until after a couple of laps, and the car became increasingly more difficult to handle. It became so bad by lap twenty-seven that I had no option but to call it a day and park up in the garage. It was extremely disappointing and frustrating and I just wanted to get away as soon as I could and put this bad experience behind me and rid myself of any negativity.

I am lucky, in that I am able to switch-off completely as soon as I am reunited with my family, and as anyone with children will know, two-year-old daughters can be very demanding of their Papas, which was just what I needed. Certainly, Carlotta was the perfect antidote and she soon had my full attention.

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Before I got my head into F1 mode for the team's home Grand Prix at Silverstone, Benson & Hedges had arranged for me to do a 'job swap' with Manchester United's Ryan Giggs as a feature in a British newspaper and TV channel. It was a very enjoyable PR opportunity and Ryan told me afterwards that he was impressed with my skills, especially shooting goals. Then it was my turn to demonstrate the handling of Honda's latest S2000 around a local race track.

Not long after Ryan jumped into the driving seat, he misjudged his speed going into one bend and we ended up facing the opposite way! At least he was pushing - a little too hard and too early perhaps, but he didn't do it again. Altogether it was good experience for both of us and a great way for me to unwind before the British Grand Prix.

As Silverstone is one of my favourite circuits I felt quite optimistic, believing we can obtain a good performance. Additionally, as it is the team's home track, it is especially important to me and I felt doubly committed to continue my point-scoring finishes. So naturally I was feeling very upbeat and optimistic when I set the third fastest time on Friday in the tricky wet conditions. And, I felt quite optimistic for the rest of the weekend as my car felt very good. We had a very good balance and the harder intermediate Bridgestone tyres were working really well. In fact, I felt that if the weather stayed the same I could be on the third or fourth rows, and if not, I would be struggling to make the top ten.

As it happened, Saturday's weather was better - but not for me. Then I had a very difficult and frustrating time as an engine sensor problem occurred during second free practice. That cost me the session and much of the second when it reoccurred. In total I had completed less than twenty minutes track time before qualifying, so I was feeling very frustrated. When it came to qualifying my engine went on the first lap, so I had to rush back to my pit garage and jump into the T-car, which didn't feel as good or as well-balanced as my race car.

I was very frustrated, as my race-car felt very well-balanced and to try and get the same result with the T-car can realistically take half-a-day - certainly to feel confident enough to fully maximise the car's potential. On my first lap I had a bit of a moment when the car oversteered more than I had expected it to and I subsequently struggled with the balance, ending a hugely disappointing seventeenth. It was a big disappointment for me as well as the team who had changed the engine in time for qualifying. All I could do now was pray for rain for Sunday!

As you all know, my prayers were answered. The weather couldn't have been more difficult but it was great for us and I knew that I had an outside chance of making up quite a few places. When faced with this situation - tricky wet, damp and then wet conditions - it is just the sort of challenge and opportunity I love. And, after the morning warm-up we felt that with a little bit of luck we may just be able to grab another Championship point.

For sure the race was difficult, with such changing weather conditions, but the intermediate Bridgestone tyres were much better suited to the wet conditions and you could see just how good they were on the Ferraris who were once again in a class of their own. I was pushing hard throughout the race but during the last third when I was running closely with Olivier and Nick, I felt I could have overtaken the Sauber for the last point but unfortunately that was not to be.

Now, on our way to France, I have completed some testing in Valencia, where we tested some aerodynamic parts on the front wing and several variations in suspension set-up over three days. Altogether I completed a total of 156 laps completely trouble-free so I feel optimistic about our chances for points at Magny-Cours. A good qualifying position is key to our chances in the race, but again rain would significantly help my chances!

Ciao a tutti

Giancarlo Fisichella's column is written exclusively for Atlas F1 by Fisichella himself, with the assistance of friend and freelance journalist Georgie Shaw.
Fisichella's official website can be found at http://www.giancarlofisichella.it.