Valentino Rossi Asks Ferrari for F1 Test

Although he insisted that he'll stay in the MotoGP championship for another season – breaking Giacomo Agostini's winning record seems to have become his new target in the series – Valentino Rossi apparently asked Ferrari for another Formula One test. The Italian rider seems keen to try an F1 single-seater once again, now that he has finished his business in the 2009 MotoGP season.

“I have already asked (Stefano) Domenicali via text if I can have another test,” Rossi told the reporters in Malaysia, according to the GMM news agency. The Italian previously tested for Ferrari a few years ago, but ultimately decided to stay in the MotoGP based on a 2-year extension with Yamaha Racing Team (back in 2005).

However, with Fernando Alonso scheduled to come to Maranello following the Abu Dhabi season finale, Rossi will likely face a negative answer from Domenicali. First of all, both the Spaniard and Felipe Massa must get acquainted (or re-acquainted, in the Brazilian's case) with the new 2010 challenger. Secondly, there are already a few days of testing in the off-season for a team to waste it on useless on-offs.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) currently prohibits in-season testing, which makes the winter testing days even more valuable than before. If giving Rossi an open-wheeler to test during the 2005 season was not a big deal, it certainly becomes a problem under the current F1 climate.

The only chance Rossi's testing would actually mean something for Ferrari would be if the Italian was at least considering the opportunity to join the Scuderia. However, the 9-time motorcycle champion insisted he'll stay in the MotoGP at least until his contract with Yamaha expires (at the end of next season), while his manager Davide Brivio insisted his client's chances of making such a switch are now close to zero.

“The more years that pass, the older he gets for F1. The chances are lessening in my opinion,” said Brivio.