Rossi F1 switch still possible
 |
| Valentino Rossi |
That night, the online edition of The New York Times, the most important newspaper in the USA, published an article on its homepage about Valentino Rossi’s day. This is a real exception for a newspaper and a country quite reluctant to give space to motorsport from the Old Continent: the coupling Rossi-Red prevailed above skepticism “Made in USA". And who knows what they might write one day soon after Rossi's great lap times at the end of the test session!
Valentino was extremely happy with his lap time of 1.21.900, clocked on the penultimate lap, almost over the time limit the team was allowed to use the Catalan track. According to Ferrari Corse Clienti, Rossi was so fast that he equaled Kimi Raikkonen’s best 2008 qualifying lap in the same car around Barcelona. Sure Rossi had slicks at his disposal rather than grooved tires, but the track was still pretty moist and slippery, although drying rapidly, on Thursday when he set his best lap and GP2 tires are not F1 tires.
 |
| Valentino Rossi |
“We kept the last three quarters of an hour to try a ‘time attack’ with little petrol and fresh tires. I would have given anything for such a lap time," said Rossi.
Rossi said that he had much more fun compared to his last experience in Mugello in November 2008. “It’s more fun here, because it’s a little bit easier. It’s more effort in Mugello, but this track here is really wonderful, with motorbikes and cars, although I have to say that turn 10 is a little tight and you’re braking much later."
After Rossi lapped close to current F1 pace in a 2008 Ferrari fitted with GP2 slicks on Thursday, Yamaha MotoGP team boss Davide Brivio said he fears the seven-time MotoGP champion will start pondering his future again.
 |
| Valentino Rossi |
"I have to be worried about these excellent times because Valentino really could get the desire to change sport," Brivio was quoted as saying by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
Rossi's Yamaha contract expires this season, and Ducati is no longer Rossi's most likely alternative if he leaves Yamaha.
"The greatest danger is Ferrari," Brivio said.
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has said that Rossi would be an ideal candidate should F1 rules change and allow teams to run third cars.
08/21/09 (GMM) One of the longest-running 'will he/won't he?' sagas in formula one memory continues to persist, as Valentino Rossi admitted the possibility he might switch codes.
The multiple MotoGP champion has told the Italian press that if Ferrari succeeds in getting permission to field a third car in grands prix, he will be considered for the seat.
"They would have to think of me for the drive," said the 30-year-old, who said he is contracted to race with Yamaha next year.
"In 2010 we will see," the Italian added. "I do not know now how things will be — to drive the Ferrari is a dream for anyone."