Ferrari offer Valentino Rossi an F1 test drive

[FourWheelDrift]

Rossi, 3 times world Motobike GP champion and known to be bored with his current ride with Honda (both Yamaha and Ducati are courting him for 2004) has been invited to test drive one of their Formula One cars.
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said he was curious to see if the 24-year-old Italian could handle a Formula One car.

"If the conditions were right I think it would be worth it - a serious test without commitment from either party," Montezemolo said.

Rossi has spoken in the past of an interest in racing in F1 and competed in last years Rally Great Britain.

It's been done before when John Surtees 7 times world Bike champion moved to F1 and won the title in 1964.

Other drivers have changed discipline with varying degrees of success, Mike Hailwood (F1), Wayne Gardner (Aussie V8), Aaron Slight (last years privateer champion in the BTCC).

I'd like to see it.

[V8 Archie]

Sounds like a publicity day rather than a serious consideration. Ferrari are not about to jetison Schumacher, and it would not be possible to write a contract for Rossi that both he and Schumacher would agree to.

[FourWheelDrift]

He's not going to replace Schumacher and he wouldn't be driving a car in any racing competition for another 2-3 years at least (he's only 24) but it would show his natural talent and so many drivers in F1 are given contracts tied to a management team rather than a racing team before they even start driving in F1.

[The DJ 27]

Didn't they give Max Biaggi a run in an F1 car a couple of years back?

[tuffer]

Unless they run 3 cars!!!

[condor]

The DJ 27 said:

Didn't they give Max Biaggi a run in an F1 car a couple of years back?

Yes...they did
reported here:-
www.fia.com/presse/f1updt-a/22-01-99.htm

I'm sure Rossi will enjoy his F1 experience ...and I certainly hope he does well at it

[FourWheelDrift]

Well it's happening, only it's with Toyota.

I guess the Yamaha M1 MotoGP bike is a bit of a underwhelming disappointment for him over last years Honda then

Autosport said:

Motorcycle racing megastar Valentino Rossi will get his first taste of a Formula 1 car thanks to Toyota in the next few weeks, according to this week's Autosport magazine. The 24-year-old Italian, who has won the motorcycle world championship five times, has been linked with tests for BAR and Ferrari in recent years. He visited the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne during a break from Moto GP testing, and it is understood that he agreed to test for Toyota during a meeting over the weekend. Rossi has moved to Yamaha over the winter, and the test idea came about because Yamaha is part of the Toyota corporation's portfolio. As part of the switch, Olivier Panis will get to try Rossi's Yamaha 500cc motorcycle. "My first motorsport experience was in karting," said Rossi. "I have done some rallies, but I hope to try an F1 car someday, maybe it will happen."

[bad boy]

i wouldnt bet against him being a future world champion if his riding anything to go by

Gazboy said:

Isn't the Yamaha a 1000cc? With 5 cylinders? I think he would win the championship within 2 seasons of signing with Toyota, who have donated £1bn to it's racing program over 5 years. Rossi has fantastic credentials as a racer, but would the gangy alien be physicaly strong enough? Not that I'm dismissing rideing a big bang Honda as easy, something with 240bhp and weighing 200kg with him on it, isn't a walk in the park.....

i would imagine he is the type who doesent look strong but probably is

[The DJ 27]

The Honda engine is a 1000cc V5 engine as well IIRC. I would think his neck would need a lot of toughening up for a full F1 season. MotoGP bikes are fast, but they don't go round corners THAT quickly

[FourWheelDrift]

In MotoGP Honda's as mentioned are V5's, so are the Proton KR5 bikes. Yamaha, Suzuki's and Ducati's are 4 cylinder bikes.