Rossi regrets turning down F1 chance
Added on Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Rossi has tested F1 cars in the past
Valentino Rossi admits that he has some regrets over not talking up an opportunity to drive in Formula One although he has not ruled out a move to four wheels in the future.
The Yamaha rider, who has previously tested for the Ferrari F1 team, admitted to Italian magazine Affari Italiani on Wednesday that he regrets a missed opportunity to try his hand at Formula One.
“‘Sorry’ is not the right word,” said the 29-year-old. “But I do have some regrets because I am still curious to know what I could have done.”
Rossi, who at the Le Mans circuit last Sunday equalled motorcycle great Angel Nieto’s tally of 90 victories, explained that he simply baulked at moving to F1.
“I was doing well in the testing — it had always been my dream to race with Ferrari. But at that time I was not ready for the jump and I was in the middle of the motorcycles.
“Driving F1 cars is extremely satisfying,” he added. “It is less a vehicle and more like an aeroplane, giving you great sensations. But for a motorcyclist it is also a strange feeling; putting your legs into a black hole.”
But Rossi refuses to rule out switching to four wheels at some time in the future and reports are increasingly linking the former world champion with a switch to rally driving.
“I want to do some more racing (in MotoGP) and then I want to spend some seasons with my passion; the cars. Perhaps rallying, maybe something else. I’m not yet ready to stop racing.” he added.
Last week, former F1 world champion Michael Schumacher made the switch to motorcycle racing, having been named on the entry list for the German Superbike Championship.
