• News

Valentino Rossi to test for Ferrari

ESPNF1 Staff
January 13, 2010 « Ferrari launch date announced | »
Valentino Rossi has tested for Ferrari before © Sutton Images
Enlarge

Moto GP champion Valentino Rossi will test a Ferrari Formula One car at Barcelona on January 20.

He will drive an old car so as not to breach the F1 testing ban, which is in place until the first official test on February 1 in Valencia. Rossi is no stranger to driving an F1 car having had two outings with Ferrari before, most recently during a two-day test at Mugello in November 2008.

Rossi has made clear on a number of occasions that he has no intention to swap Moto GP for F1. However, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali, who promised him the test if he won the 2009 Moto GP championship, believes he would fit the F1 driver mould, especially if three-car teams were allowed.

"A pilot such as Valentino, should he be interested, could be consistent with this type of project," said Domenicali.

Rossi's current contract with Yamaha expires at the end of 2010, making a swap theoretically possible in 2011.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
ESPN Staff Close