Rossi considered Massa substitution
Sep 5, 2009 | 05:38 PM
#1
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| FIGJAM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,463
Rossi considered Massa substitution
Formula One news: Rossi considered Massa substitution - GPUpdate.net Formula One
Multiple MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi has admitted that he considered stepping in for Ferrari as the replacement for the injured Felipe Massa this year. The Brazilian was injured in qualifying for the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix although Rossi, who has been linked with the team several times, turned down the offer.
With Massa out of action and seven-time Champion Michael Schumacher also having been unavailable due to injuries of his own, Ferrari eventually elected to use reserve driver Luca Badoer before switching to Giancarlo Fisichella for next weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
"We spoke with (Stefano) Domenicali (Ferrari General Manager) but we had two big problems," Yamaha rider Rossi explained at Misano. "The first one is the neck (strength) because I don't know if I would be able to finish the race with my neck; Monza is not very strong for the neck but, anyway, it still needs great effort.
"Also, because we're fighting for the (MotoGP) championship; for sure, the race at Monza would be a big stress and it's better to stay in MotoGP; we had already decided before that, to go into a Formula One racing without testing the car, is more risky than fun - it's not possible to arrive over there and do all the work to understand the car in just three days."
Rossi has qualified on pole position for this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix.
Multiple MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi has admitted that he considered stepping in for Ferrari as the replacement for the injured Felipe Massa this year. The Brazilian was injured in qualifying for the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix although Rossi, who has been linked with the team several times, turned down the offer.
With Massa out of action and seven-time Champion Michael Schumacher also having been unavailable due to injuries of his own, Ferrari eventually elected to use reserve driver Luca Badoer before switching to Giancarlo Fisichella for next weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
"We spoke with (Stefano) Domenicali (Ferrari General Manager) but we had two big problems," Yamaha rider Rossi explained at Misano. "The first one is the neck (strength) because I don't know if I would be able to finish the race with my neck; Monza is not very strong for the neck but, anyway, it still needs great effort.
"Also, because we're fighting for the (MotoGP) championship; for sure, the race at Monza would be a big stress and it's better to stay in MotoGP; we had already decided before that, to go into a Formula One racing without testing the car, is more risky than fun - it's not possible to arrive over there and do all the work to understand the car in just three days."
Rossi has qualified on pole position for this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix.
Sep 6, 2009 | 05:44 AM
#6
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From: London, formerly LA
He was only a second or so behind Schumi on his first few laps at the Ferrari test track a couple of years ago IIRC, and that was then.
Sep 6, 2009 | 10:59 AM
#9
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Josh is posting in the Pit Stop forum?!?!?! Did Hell finally freeze over?