F1 News
Motorsport legend Rossi recalls Hamilton story: 'He was scolding me!'
As Valentino Rossi prepares for the Bathurst 12 Hour in his #46 BMW, he reflects on his legendary career, Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari switch, and a memorable encounter with Michael Schumacher. From MotoGP dominance to F1 tests, the nine-time world champion shares insights on his journey across two and four wheels.
Valentino Rossi will be participating in the infamous Bathurst 12 hours this weekend in his #46 BMW M4. The Italian had an illustrious career on two wheels, winning nine world titles. Over the years, Rossi has also driven multiple F1 cars, rally cars and GT cars. The Italian showed his talent in every discipline.
In an interview with Italian outlet Corriere Della Sera, Rossi reflected on some of the most memorable moments from his career on two and four wheels. The nine-time world champion was asked about Lewis Hamilton's highly anticipated move to Ferrari. "Sure, it's a beautiful thing. Seeing him there, in the red overalls, excites me too. I really want to understand how he does it. And how Leclerc does it."
Rossi also reflected on one of his previous meetings with Hamilton, during which the Brit told him off for arriving late. In 2019, the pair swapped vehicles at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Hamilton rode Rossi's Yamaha, while 'The Doctor' drove Hamilton's 2017 Mercedes.
'He was scolding me!'
"A wonderful evening—dinner and deep conversations. The next day, I was running late. As I was getting changed, Hamilton walked into the motorhome, dressed as Hamilton always is. He pointed at his watch and said, ‘Typical Italians… cappuccino, brioche…’ He was scolding me. He was smiling—but not completely."
Rossi also tested a 2006 Ferrari Formula 1 car in Valencia at the same circuit where he would swap cars with Lewis Hamilton. F1 legend and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher praised his natural ability behind the wheel. Still, he felt nervous going into the test, but after nearly twenty years, he reflected on it with good memories.
Rossi: 'Schumacher was a real legend'
"I have a wonderful memory of Schumi. Everyone knew that years earlier, I had bet on Jacques Villeneuve—so basically, against him. So when we ended up together in the garage, I was a bit paranoid. I thought, ‘He’s looking at me right now, thinking… here comes the idiot.’ But instead, he was incredibly kind and gave me tons of advice. A real legend."
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