Motorcycle racing legend Valentino Rossi recently shared a heartwarming anecdote about his 2006 Ferrari test, recalling his encounter with Formula 1 icon Michael Schumacher.
Rossi hung up his leathers at the end of 2021 when he concluded a two-decade presence in motorcycle racing's top category, but the seven-time MotoGP world champion hasn't stored away his helmet.
The 45-year-old Italian now applies his skills to the world of four-wheel racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship, racing a BMW M4 GT3 EVO in the LMGT3 category for front-running outfit Team WRT.
Rossi also took part in last weekend’s legendary Bathurst 12 Hours event in Australia, the Italian concluding the event in second position behind WRT’s sister entry.
A Meeting with a Legend
In the mid-2000s, Rossi underwent multiple tests sessions with Ferrari as he seriously contemplated a switch from one elite motorsport category to another.
It was during his second test at Valencia in 2006 that he found himself face-to-face with Schumacher, a meeting he approached with some trepidation given his allegiance to Jacques Villeneuve during the 1997 F1 title fight.
However, the seven-time MotoGP champion was pleasantly surprised by Schumacher’s kindness and generosity.
“I have beautiful memories of Schumi,” Rossi told Corriere della Sera.
“It was known that years before I had bet on Jacques Villeneuve, therefore against him. So, when we found ourselves in the garage I was a bit paranoid.
“I thought now he would look at me and think, ‘here he is, the a**hole.’ Instead, very kind, he gave me a lot of advice. A great guy.”
The Decision to Stay in MotoGP
Despite an impressive test performance, reportedly lapping just 0.7 seconds slower than Schumacher, Rossi ultimately decided that F1 wasn’t the right fit for him.
He described his final deliberation on the way home, realizing that despite his speed, too many uncertainties lingered.
“I was quite fast,” Rossi admitted, but noted he still had “a lot of question marks” about making the switch. Ultimately, he made the call on his flight home “to continue to race in MotoGP.”
While his F1 ambitions never materialized into a full-time drive, Rossi later enjoyed another encounter with a legendary F1 world champion.
In 2019, he swapped machinery with seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, with the Briton testing Rossi’s Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike while Rossi drove the Mercedes W08 F1 car.
“Nice,” Rossi said of the meeting with Hamilton.
“Dinner and confidences. The next day, I arrived late. I was changing, he walked into the motorhome and it was Hamilton dressed as Hamilton. He pointed to the clock: the usual Italians, cappuccino, brioche…
“He scolded me. Smiled. Not entirely, however.”
Excitement for Hamilton’s Move to Ferrari
Now 45, Rossi remains an avid follower of F1 and is particularly intrigued by Hamilton’s move to Ferrari for the 2025 season.
The sight of the seven-time world champion donning the famous red overalls has sparked excitement in Rossi, who is eager to see how Hamilton fares in his new environment.
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“Of course, it’s a beautiful thing,” he said. “Seeing him there, in the red race suit, excites me too. I really want to understand how he copes. And how Leclerc is doing.”
As Rossi reflects on his own near-miss with a Ferrari F1 career, he remains one of the few top-flight racers to have experienced both two- and four-wheel grand prix machinery at the highest level, continuing to bridge the worlds of MotoGP and Formula 1 with his enduring passion for racing.
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