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Rossi interested in Ferrari drive

Valentino Rossi said he is interested in becoming Ferrari's third driver © Getty Images

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MotoGP star Valentino Rossi has expressed interest in driving a third Ferrari in Formula One.

It is no secret that the seven-time champion of MotoGP also has a vested interest in racing on four wheels, having tested for Ferrari and competed in a number of rally events. He has long been linked with a switch to F1 with the Italian team, who have been pushing strongly for a change of rules to allow three-car entries.

But Rossi, 31, is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport as indicating he does not want to enter Formula One as one of Ferrari's two main drivers.

"To have a strong team like Yamaha's [in MotoGP], Ferrari should hire Sebastian Vettel alongside Alonso," said Rossi. "I would like to explore the possibility of a third car for myself."

Rossi could well be forgiven for having more on his mind than Ferrari, however, after Italian police arrested a 42-year-old labourer who admitted threatening to "put a bullet in the head" of the world champion at the Mugello round this weekend.

The man made the threat repeatedly to Rossi's friends, family and anonymously to the media.

Police searched the man's home and found "overwhelming evidence" to prosecute him, including meticulously researched personal details of Rossi's friends and family, business dealings and newspaper clippings of 'the man I hate most'.

"I thank the State Police and the commissioner of Pesaro. They were very good," said Rossi. "There is little else to add, except I am sorry to hear that someone's got so much hate for you without any real reason."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.