Valentino Rossi for Ferrari?
Discussion
I read in the paper the other day that Ferrari have offered world motorcycling champion Valentino Rossi a "test drive" in one of their F1 cars, to see how they get along together.
Of course Rossi is a superstar in Europe, you can see their reasoning, but the last person to be world champion on both 2 and 4 wheels was John Surtees years back.
Will Shumacher be looking over his shoulder????
Of course Rossi is a superstar in Europe, you can see their reasoning, but the last person to be world champion on both 2 and 4 wheels was John Surtees years back.
Will Shumacher be looking over his shoulder????
I reckon Schumacher may either retire soon or transfer to another team. He may have won the championship, but this season looked nowhere near as good as his previous victories. Let's face it - he scraped it. Time to let Raikkonen, Alonso, Montoya, Fisichella et al take a shot at the championship.
If Schumacher retires or is dropped, Barichello will take over as number 1, and the new blood at number 2 may well be Rossi. He'd certainly get loads of Italian support.
If Schumacher retires or is dropped, Barichello will take over as number 1, and the new blood at number 2 may well be Rossi. He'd certainly get loads of Italian support.
Given that Valentino has already tried his hand at 4 wheels before inc. rallying and that he has stated that he's like to consider a move to 4 wheels it would seem a logical move. I doubt that Herr Shumacher will have much to worry about for a while though, Rossi's bike control is fantastic, but he doesn't have to race with the concept of 'the faster I go the move grip i've got' that F1 drivers do, but i'm sure he's learn quickly 
That's an interesting thought...
I would have thought though that the reality might be hugely different. If you look at the 'good 'ol days' there was loads of great drivers who were very adaptive to other forms of motor sport, Moss, Surtees, Clark, etc.
Nowadays I feel the pressure required at this level dictates that they channel all their energies into one arena.
Shame really, but would be good to see. Imagine what Mansell would have been like on a Ducati.....
I would have thought though that the reality might be hugely different. If you look at the 'good 'ol days' there was loads of great drivers who were very adaptive to other forms of motor sport, Moss, Surtees, Clark, etc.
Nowadays I feel the pressure required at this level dictates that they channel all their energies into one arena.
Shame really, but would be good to see. Imagine what Mansell would have been like on a Ducati.....
Too late.
Edited to say, not too late for Valentino to change to 4 wheels but too late in that this subject has already been covered in General Motorsport.
here - www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=61969&f=42&h=0
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Friday 17th October 14:18
Edited to say, not too late for Valentino to change to 4 wheels but too late in that this subject has already been covered in General Motorsport.
here - www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=61969&f=42&h=0
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Friday 17th October 14:18
Went out for dinner with the guys from work the other week and this discussion came up. Our chairman races in some historic events and some of my colleagues have been involved with motorsport at high levels.
Senna, I seem to recall, really made his name racing a Merc 190E2.3-16 in an event and Schumacher was a DTM/Sportscar driver for Mercedes.
I reckon Senna would have been good on 2 wheels, but give the old whinger his due, Mansell would probably have been better due to his grit and sheer balls. Technically he didn't stand a chance against Senna, but he was reasonably fearless.
What about Foggy in a WRC car?
Senna, I seem to recall, really made his name racing a Merc 190E2.3-16 in an event and Schumacher was a DTM/Sportscar driver for Mercedes.
I reckon Senna would have been good on 2 wheels, but give the old whinger his due, Mansell would probably have been better due to his grit and sheer balls. Technically he didn't stand a chance against Senna, but he was reasonably fearless.
What about Foggy in a WRC car?
Without offending fans of his, can I say that the current crop of dullards in the business of f1 ( OK then, I mean Kimi ) really leave me cold. If Mcclaren should dominate next year I really could not be bothered with watching.
F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, and yet it is more than a business. Viewers want to see passion and commitment and the joy of winning. People like Rossi ( and Alonso) have that, and there are not enough of them !
F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, and yet it is more than a business. Viewers want to see passion and commitment and the joy of winning. People like Rossi ( and Alonso) have that, and there are not enough of them !
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! why does F1 feel it has to nick competitors from other motor sports just to try and remain "on top" and get the biggest viewing figures.
its very annoying to fans of other motorsports. Castroneves will be next and he will get dumbed down by the F1 machine till he is a cardboard faceunlike the loony he is in America.
there is no race Rossi could express his style through an F1 like he can on a bike. On the bike he can powerslide, out brake, go round the outside of people (as can all the others) in F1 he would be one of many in a big long line! it would be like sticking Giles Villeneuve in this years ferrari and expecting him to do insane powerslides ala 1979. Unless they go back to racing cars from the 60's, Rossi should stay in Motogp, especially as next year will be even better given the Ducati's will be on level ground following this years slight Honda advantage.
that said, now f1 has lost its only character in Jacques (must be the candaian water!), Rossi would be a welcome change from the "Ice Man Raikkonnen"
its very annoying to fans of other motorsports. Castroneves will be next and he will get dumbed down by the F1 machine till he is a cardboard faceunlike the loony he is in America.
there is no race Rossi could express his style through an F1 like he can on a bike. On the bike he can powerslide, out brake, go round the outside of people (as can all the others) in F1 he would be one of many in a big long line! it would be like sticking Giles Villeneuve in this years ferrari and expecting him to do insane powerslides ala 1979. Unless they go back to racing cars from the 60's, Rossi should stay in Motogp, especially as next year will be even better given the Ducati's will be on level ground following this years slight Honda advantage.
that said, now f1 has lost its only character in Jacques (must be the candaian water!), Rossi would be a welcome change from the "Ice Man Raikkonnen"
v12bry said:
Senna, I seem to recall, really made his name racing a Merc 190E2.3-16 in an event and Schumacher was a DTM/Sportscar driver for Mercedes.
this was a support race for the german gp in 83, 84 or 85? he beat people like lauda et al but to be fair to Senna, he was already creating enormous interest following success in FFord 1600 and FFord 2000
You realise of course that this is all fiction and will never happen. Rossi going to race at Ferrari I mean, at least, not until Schumacher has gone.
How do you think two World Champions, who are both the most driven and passionate in their fields, would get on racing together for the same team? Would last about as long as the first qualifying session before the toys were out the playpens...
How do you think two World Champions, who are both the most driven and passionate in their fields, would get on racing together for the same team? Would last about as long as the first qualifying session before the toys were out the playpens...
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