Valentino Rossi reveals how close he was to joining F1 in 2006!
F1 News
Valentino Rossi has revealed that he was actually really close to signing a deal to become a Formula 1 driver back in 2006, whilst he was testing with Ferrari. The Moto GP superstar recently drove Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes in a swap that saw the F1 champ ride the Italian's bike.
Rossi drove a Ferrari F1 car in several tests back in the mid 2000s, impressing the team and seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher. He was offered a role with the team but decided not to take it.
He told Gazzetto dello Sport: “In 2006 I was very close to making a switch to Formula 1.
“I had completed a number of tests for Ferrari and afterwards we sat down with the team management who had devised a very comprehensive plan to prepare me for a career in Formula 1.
"However, that plan stated that I first had to drive a less fast car first to prepare and initially I was supposed to be a test driver, which is why I decided to decline the offer.”