Just one good thing has come out of Fisichella driving for Jordan these last two years - and that was his well-judged, if somewhat fortunate, victory in Brazil this season.

All his ability was on show that day - he has always been superb in the wet, a legacy of a delicacy of touch and smoothness of style that is rare even at the highest level.

PERSONAL DATA Born: 14/1/73 Nationality: Italian Team: Jordan First GP: Australia 1996 Wins: 1 2003 position: 12th Previous teams: Minardi, Jordan, Benetton

But it is somewhat ironic that the victory came early in a year that is perhaps the worst in Jordan's history.

Last season, Fisichella was able to put in the odd very good performance - particularly his drive into fifth place in Canada - but for the most part it was a struggle.

To Fisichella's credit, he did not let this get him down - which would have been easy to do.

But this year things have changed. Jordan did so badly that, Brazil excepted, Fisichella has been unable to transcend the car - and he is clearly letting it get to him.

He desperately needed to get out of Jordan and into a decent team in 2004.

Sauber are not exactly that - but if a year in Switzerland leads to a seat at Ferrari in 2005, as Fisichella hopes, then the move will have been worth it.