Valentino Rossi tested a Ferrari F1 car for the first time in two years, completing 68 laps in Barcelona on Wednesday.
Italian improves after early spins
MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi tested a Formula One car for the first time in two years on Wednesday, completing 68 laps at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.
Wet conditions restricted Rossi - driving a 2008 Ferrari - to just two laps in the morning, including a pair of spins.
However, once conditions cleared up in the afternoon he drove more than 300 kilometres, posting a best lap time of one minute 25.20 seconds - just over three-and-a-half seconds slower than Kimi Raikkonen's lap record.
"I'm happy," said Rossi. "It was a good test, although it was wet in the morning and without grip I had some problems.
"Fortunately it dried off in the afternoon, I could use the slicks and improve my lap times."
Future
Ferrari have refused to rule out employing Rossi on a full-time basis should proposals to allow three cars per team come to fruition in the future.
"You can never say never," said team principal Stefano Domenicali.
"There are talks about three cars. This would be an interesting idea and a improvemeent for all involved in Formula One.
"Especially with the possibility of Rossi at the wheel."
Rossi will be in action again on Thursday.
