We have heard this before, the man that could just be crowned MotoGP Champion for the 10th time this year is considering racing in Formula One behind the wheel of a Ferrari. Previously the idea came from the man himself but this time it’s the bosses who want him to race the Ferrari four-wheeler.
Valentino Rossi has done time testing a Ferrari F1 car and has impressed with his speed which was just a few seconds off the pace despite being more accustomed to racing superbikes than F1 racers. There was plenty of speculation about the posibility but Rossi himself killed the idea, choosing instead to concentrate on racing bikes.
But now we have bosses speaking about the idea out loud. Ferrari chairman, Luca di Montezemolo has openly spoke about the idea and reiterated it this week when he said again that he wants F1’s rules to be changed so that the Italian team can enter a third car for the multiple and reigning MotoGP champion.
Supporting the former Fiat Chairman is Sergio Marchionne, the chief executive of the Ferrari parent Fiat. He admitted that Rossi at the wheel of a Maranello built single seater is “a great idea”.
“Luca says he would like to have a third Ferrari car with Valentino — it’s a great idea if he (Rossi) is willing to do it,” said Marchionne in Italian reports.
The comments are despite Rossi’s contractual ties to Fiat, with the carmaker a major sponsor of his MotoGP team Yamaha.
Marchionne said he “cannot say anything” about Rossi’s future, with the 31-year-old’s contract expiring this year.
Rossi has persistently denied the possibility but after achieving everything there is to achieve in MotoGP he could just consider the swap, especially if he retains the title again this year. With his contract expiring soon and Rossi being Italian, there is nothing more the scuderia could want than having a Italian champion behind the wheel of a champion Italian racing machine.
If he does make the swap, he would be the first ever rider to make the swap since John Surtees did so back in 1960. Surtees remains the only driver to have won the world title in both series, it would be interesting to see Rossi do the same.
Source: GMM
