Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP boss is worried his prize asset will be lured into Formula One by Ferrari.
Rossi currently rides for Yamaha, although reports claim the 30-year-old Italian will switch to Ducati for the 2011 MotoGP season. But Yamaha team manager Davide Brivio claims a Ferrari switch would be of more interest to Rossi.
“The greatest danger is Ferrari," Brivio told Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
Rossi impressed with his pace in an extensive two-day test for Ferrari at Barcelona last week, and Brivio believes his excellent lap times wouldn’t have gone unnoticed within the walls of Maranello.
“I have to be worried about these excellent times because Valentino really could get the desire to change sport," said Brivio.
Rossi himself has played down a switch to Formula One, claiming a switch to rallying is of more interest to him. But Rossi could be tempted if Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo’s plans to run a third Ferrari car in 2011 come to fruition.
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Re: Rossi 'could be lured into F1'
Hopefully, Rossi will give F1 a miss - and go to the WRC, he'll be more appreciated there, with the more relaxed atmosphere, and none of all the politics and everything else that ruins F1. Also, it would be the WRC sticking 2 fingers up to F1, and about time to - Rallying is far better than going round in circles.
Re: Rossi 'could be lured into F1'
This story does seems to roll round every so often. Rossi could probably handle F1 but I'm not the F1 establishment could handle him. He's probably better off going to rallying once he hangs up his motorcycle boots - it may suit his flambouant attitude a little better; it would certainly be interesting to add him to the mix of Loeb and Hirvonen in the rallying circle.
Re: Rossi 'could be lured into F1'
The drama he will bring on and off the track will liven up one of the stuffiest sport events.
F1 will have to let him celebrate like he does now in MotoGP - they are all part of the show and us as fans love him as much for his (and his followers) antics. This is one of the reasons he is loved by so many people - respect on track and knows how to please the crowd off it so to speak.
The question is, should the move be made, will the close knit "upper circle" in F1 see fit to let it happen, or be relentless with ......regulation x y z states you must not....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Come on Rossi, shake up the machine and give it some very colourful life.