Luca Badoer has no regrets about accepting Felipe Massa's race-seat even in the face of wide-spread criticism over his performances.
Italian hoping to retain seat for home GP
Luca Badoer has no regrets about accepting Felipe Massa's race-seat even in the face of wide-spread criticism over his performances.
Badoer returned to racing after a ten-year absence, replacing the injured Massa at the Valencia and Belgian GPs, but his comeback has been anything but a success.
The Italian has failed to impress or even offer Ferrari fans a glimmer of hope, leading to calls for him to be replaced ahead of the upcoming Italian GP.
The 38-year-old, though, insists he has no regrets about stepping up from test driver to race driver.
"I'm very happy. Apart from the press. The only problem for me, and for the team, is the press," Badoer said.
"Ninety percent have written really bad things. And so for me there is no point because I don't read the newspapers, so everybody can read what they want.
"But the people around can be influenced by this, so I don't like it for this. Apart from the press I am very happy at this moment, because I drive for Ferrari and I drive in F1. I'm improving every time and I know how difficult it is.
"Other drivers came to me and said 'we know how difficult it is'. And so for me it is really a good period, a good moment, press apart."
Badoer, who will start Sunday's Belgian GP from the back of the grid as he did in Valencia, is nonetheless hoping Ferrari will retain him for the Italian GP, his home race.
"For me Monza is special. It is my home track and I have the lap record there in Formula 1. And like Mugello and Fiorano, it is the track that I have spent the most time in my life. For sure in Monza I will have the big step that everybody is waiting for."
