20/04/2010
NEWS STORY
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Ferrari hasn't given up on its dream of running a third car, admitting that if it gets its way Valentino Rossi is the man to drive it.
At the height of the FOTA/FIA 'war' last season, Ferrari revealed that it hoped to be given the chance to run a third car, though few of its rival shared the Maranello outfit's dream.
Speaking in Milan, the Italian outfit's president, Luca di Montezemolo admitted that he still hopes to see three scarlet cars on the grid next season, with multi MotoGP world champion, Valentino Rossi, at the wheel of one of them.
"We want a third car and I would do everything to have Valentino," said the Italian. "When he wins this year's MotoGP, enough is enough, he must also win in Formula One."
Rossi has been linked with F1 for several years, and though he has tested for Ferrari on a number of occasions insists that he will not follow the example set by John Surtees in the 1960s and switch from two to four wheels. However, the charismatic Italian, who is currently leading the 2010 championship, would no doubt bring new fans to the sport and Bernie Ecclestone, not to mention (F1 owners) CVC would be equally delighted to have "The Doctor" on board.
Following on from his team's criticism of media reports that there is a rift between its drivers following Fernando Alonso's move on Felipe Massa as he entered the pitlane during the Chinese GP, di Montezemolo insists that all is well at Maranello. "They know they race for Ferrari and not for themselves," he said.
With Massa's contract coming to an end this year, Renault's Robert Kubica is being linked with the Italian team.