Brawn regrets Rossi's decision

Rossi announced yesterday that he wishes to concentrate on his motorcycle career despite impressing for Ferrari in private tests in Italy and at an open test at Valencia before the season began.

"We were very impressed with what he was able to do, but he has decided," said Brawn. "I think he feels he has his hands full with his motorcycle career. 

"After several championships he was looking for a new challenge, and he's found a new challenge in his [current] career."

Brawn made it clear that he believes Rossi has the talent to make the switch from two to four wheels.

"It would have been very exciting," he said. "It is difficult to predict what would have happened. But he was very impressive in all the running we did, otherwise we wouldn't have taken him so seriously."

When asked whether Rossi could still race in F1 in the future, Brawn said: "The longer you leave it, the harder it will become. But could he still do it? I guess he could, yes, in a couple of years."

Rossi's announcement fuelled speculation that Ferrari have already decided upon their 2007 driver line-up and that Kimi Raikkonen will be named as Michael Schumacher's teammate for next season.

But when asked whether Rossi knew of Raikkonen's and Schumacher's intentions for next year when he made his announcement, Brawn said: "No!"

"The decision does simplify Ferrari's options for next year. Obviously at the end of this year we have to put all the pieces in place, and that's one piece that has been put in place," said Brawn. 

"But it would have been a nice challenge to have. It's a shame."