Dodged a bullet: Fisichella instead of Rossi

oh come on. as if.

 

I read that as well, I guess Ferrari only wanted one car in the points again.

 

Ferrari: memory like an elephant
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Let me see, Italian Press probably full of Fisichella going to Ferrari at the moment while there is also a Motogp going on in Italy at the same time. Sounds to me more like a way to keep the Motogp in the headlines.

 

Tis true.

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi passed up the chance to race for Ferrari at the forthcoming Italian Grand Prix.

Italian Rossi, 30, has tested for Ferrari in the past and has also considered driving for the team in recent years.

But, after weighing up this latest opportunity, he has again opted to stick to two wheels because of a lack of preparation.

"I talked with Ferrari about racing at Monza. But without testing it would not have been logical," he told Saturday's Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We already decided that to enter Formula One without testing is more risky than fun. You can't go there and do everything to understand the car in three days.

"I also don't know if I could have finished the race with my neck. And also, because we're fighting for the MotoGP championship, the race at Monza would definitely have been a big stress and it's better to stay in MotoGP."

Ferrari therefore turned to Force India's Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella, who will race for the world champions for the remainder of the season.



http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12433_5538889,00.html

 

While i've always liked Rossi, i think it's utter nonsense of him driving an F1 car, let alone a Ferrari.

Whats makes him, Ferrari, or anyone else think he'll be fast enough? He doesn't have the experience whatsoever in F1 racing, etc.

Frankly, if I were him, i'd just stay on 2 wheels. Saves all the potential embarassment.

 

He was only a few tenths off Schumi's time around Imola in 2005 i think it was.

 

Nino Barlini perhaps.

 

It is not that surprising to me. LdM's hubris started with his somewhat disorderly parting of ways -to various degrees- with the Todt/Brawn/Schumi combo. He seems to have been convinced that he had created a perfect machine where the only irreplaceable part was himself. And it looks like the reality hasn't fully sunk in yet.

 

Let's see, Schumi, now Rossi. Who else they can use to continue the free PR/hype band wagon?

 

yes mate, but that was years ago. Lucky Ferrari stopped all this BS and opted for Fisi.

 

Well, we´ve heard Rossi version of the story: that he declined the offer. Other versions in the media said that Rossi offered himself, and that he was rejected. And we all know that Rossi can be a bit... full of himself.

 

When you're an eight times Motor cycling world Champion I think you're allowed to be a bit full of yourself.

 

Thats still ALOT quicker than Badour.

 

Rossi would have almost as good a chance at getting results as Fisi will. Heck, I would have almost as good a chance. Why Ferrari chose a mediocre driver who's in the twilight of his career is beyond me. The only reason I can think of is simply because he is Italian. Fisi has done nothing in F1 to impress me. He's had stints in top tier machinery before and has done nothing to impress me.

This has become a throwaway year for Ferrari, so if they were going to take a chance on Rossi, and in a real racing environment, now would be a perfect time. Rossi, on the other hand, would be crazy to take his focus off of his own championship. Personally, I don't ever want to see him in F1 because that would mean I am not getting to see him on a bike, where he is an absolute God. The man has a natural gift that is beyond anyone else ever to race on wheels, even more so than Schumi. I fully understand why Ferrari would want to explore the possibilities.

But Fisi???? Puh lease.

 

If Rossi had done it, with the proper preparation, he would have been as competitive as the car would allow. He is an 8 time world champion in a class that is probably quite a bit more difficult than F1 (sorry about they guys, but the reality is that bikes are quite a bit harder to go fast on, at the level he is riding at).

He is probably the best that anyone has seen on the racetrack, and that would probably have held in F1. Surtees would have been WC more than once had he not gotten into with Enzo.

Art

 

Not necessarily. Specially if you´re starting to look like a parody of yourself, like sometimes Rossi do.

Of course, I don´t deny that he´s the man right now.

 

I just heard The Pope is being fitted for a seat.

 

Funny but I think he is distinctly NOT full of himself. He has a great spirit, smiles continuously, and is a happy but determined multi time world champion. I hope he doesn't waste his time with F1. You can tell that most here would love to see him knocked off any perceived pedestal that he has never put himself on. Motorcycle racers are quite different from car racers these days, IMO, esp at the top of the heap.

 

Starting to look like a parody of himself? WTF is that supposed to mean?

 

I´ve the feeling that Rossi sometimes is "overacting" in his role of Rossi, the always funny and flamboyant champion. Specially when you see that he´s not really so funny (some dirty moves on track, a few ungentle statements about his rivals here and there). I don´t want to start a debate about this, it´s off topic. Anyway, we all know that almost every elite sportsman is a jerk and Rossi is not the worst of them.

Back to the topic: after the epic fail with Badoer, I think that Fisichella is a good choice. No more silly risks.

 

Agreed, it would have been suicide.