Rossi impresses in F1

Valentino Rossi has proven that he is not just messing around with Formula 1, finishing his latest test session at Valencia just one second behind Ferraris top driver Michael Schumacher.

The MotoGP world champion started the test badly, spinning his car on the first lap of the first day but his second attempt was much more successful.

Rossi drove a 2004 Ferarri while the rest of the drivers were in the latest machines yet he still managed to set a time just one second off Schumacher and finish ninth out of 15.

He beat established drivers like David Coulthard and Jarno Trulli. Rossi’s best lap around the circuit was 1.11.814.

Rossi is scheduled to test with Ferrari throughout 2006 but it is still unclear whether he has decided to make the move to the sport when his Yamaha contract runs out at the end of the year.

Rossi also has a keen interest in Rallying, recently beating the likes of Colin McRae at a demonstration event in Monza, Italy.

Times:

ALONSO Renault 1:11.291

BUTTON Honda 1:11.327

M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1:11.831

MONTOYA McLaren 1:11.978

BARRICHELLO Honda 1:12.062

KOVALAINEN Renault 1:12.113

VILLENEUVE BMW 1:12.619

ZONTA Toyota 1:12.660

ROSSI Ferrari 1:12.856

COULTHARD Red Bull 1:12.883

WURZ Williams 1:12.925

PAFFETT McLaren 1:12.937

WEBBER Williams 1:13.050

TRULLI Toyota 1:13.078

KUBICA BMW 1:13.332