“Couldn’t believe how fast Rossi was”
Former Ferrari engineer Luigi Mazzola recalled Michael Schumacher’s reaction to Valentino Rossi’s performance in Ferrari’s F1 car and said that the German could not believe how fast the motorcycle champion was in a F1 car (picture here-above at Valencia in the Ferrari F2004).
Rossi tested the Ferrari car several times between 2005 and 2009 and impressed with his speed and easy adaptation to an F1 car, but decided not to chase career on four wheels because he loved motorcycle racing too much.
Ferrari gave Rossi several opportunities to test their cars, and one of those tests was the one on the eve of the 2006 season at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, when Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa and Valentino Rossi were driving red cars.
Luigi Mazzola recalled Schumacher’s reaction to Rossi’s performance and said he was surprised at how fast the “Doctor” was on four wheels. “I do not remember exactly how many tests we did with Valentino Rossi in a Ferrari, at least seven of them.”
“On the first test, Valentino has done a lot of laps, and he has been driving some incredibly good times in the last test. I remember Michael Schumacher, who studied telemetry, looked very surprised, almost unable to believe what he saw.”
Although testing times are difficult to compare, on February 2, 2006 in Valencia Rossi was close to Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa. But it should be noted that Schumacher was driving a new F248F1 with a V8 engine, Massa was driving the F2004 with a V8 engine, and the Rossi F2004 with a limited V10 engine.
Schumacher tested tyres and developed his car, Massa focused on tyres only, and Rossi continued to adapt to the modified F2004. Michael completed 43 laps and set the best time 1:11.640, Felipe completed 50 laps (best time 1:11.288) and Valentino completed 53 laps and set the best time 1:12.362.
We would have loved to see Valentino race in a F1 with Ferrari, (picture below with Michael Schumacher) and we believe that the tifosi were praying for this to happen, such a shame it didn’t!
