Valentino Rossi has been told that he can test with Ferrari on a regular basis in order to gauge his Formula One potential, but that there is no pressure on him to make the switch from his highly-successful MotoGP career.
Speaking to Reuters at the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo explained that the Italian would only find himself in a race seat if he could prove that he had the pace and mentality to be a winner in F1, but that the opportunity was open to both sides to continue the relationship strengthened by a test at Fiorano last week.
Rossi, who lapped quickly on what was his second outing with the Scuderia, has been told that he will be allocated a separate test team so that he can run every four weeks or so at the team's private facility during 2006, with his performances monitored to see if he has what it takes to transfer his MotoGP skills to four-wheels.
The 26-year old has another year to run on his current Yamaha MotoGP contract, but di Montezemolo makes no secret of a potential switch.
"Valentino is not obliged to race in Formula One," he stressed, "But if he decides to, it is because he decides he is ready to win. He knows that he must do some tests, and a champion like him goes only into Formula One if he chooses to do so, if he feels he is going there to win. Neither he nor we have a pistol to our heads.
"He is a nice guy, he is very popular with Italians but we don't need popularity. We need a winning driver. If something comes of this, it will, above all, be his decision. If Ferrari and Rossi come together, it will be to win the world championship and not to put on a show that we do not need."
Rossi's MotoGP rivals will now hope that the Italian's newly announced F1 workload - plus likely input into Yamaha's 2007 800cc machine - will distract him during the 2006 MotoGP season, when 'The Doctor' will be fighting for what looks like being a sixth consecutive premier-class crown.
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Modified by dj_wawa at 3:04 PM 9-7-2005
Speaking to Reuters at the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo explained that the Italian would only find himself in a race seat if he could prove that he had the pace and mentality to be a winner in F1, but that the opportunity was open to both sides to continue the relationship strengthened by a test at Fiorano last week.
Rossi, who lapped quickly on what was his second outing with the Scuderia, has been told that he will be allocated a separate test team so that he can run every four weeks or so at the team's private facility during 2006, with his performances monitored to see if he has what it takes to transfer his MotoGP skills to four-wheels.
The 26-year old has another year to run on his current Yamaha MotoGP contract, but di Montezemolo makes no secret of a potential switch.
"Valentino is not obliged to race in Formula One," he stressed, "But if he decides to, it is because he decides he is ready to win. He knows that he must do some tests, and a champion like him goes only into Formula One if he chooses to do so, if he feels he is going there to win. Neither he nor we have a pistol to our heads.
"He is a nice guy, he is very popular with Italians but we don't need popularity. We need a winning driver. If something comes of this, it will, above all, be his decision. If Ferrari and Rossi come together, it will be to win the world championship and not to put on a show that we do not need."
Rossi's MotoGP rivals will now hope that the Italian's newly announced F1 workload - plus likely input into Yamaha's 2007 800cc machine - will distract him during the 2006 MotoGP season, when 'The Doctor' will be fighting for what looks like being a sixth consecutive premier-class crown.
Modified by dj_wawa at 3:04 PM 9-7-2005
