Ferrari to Test Rossi Regularly

Although Rossi has continued to play down the significance of his recent major test for Ferrari at Fiorano, the team's technical director Ross Brawn has said they now want to extend their programme.

Brawn added that he believed Rossi was serious about possibly switching to Formula One, and claimed that Ferrari were keen on landing his services if he proved fast.

Speaking at the Italian Grand Prix, he said that the team were putting together a parallel test programme for Rossi, which could result in him running regularly.

"He is already as quick as an F1 driver in the slow corners and it is just a question of him now getting used to the braking in the high-speed corners," said Brawn.

"The basic idea is to look at him again and if the speed is there then we will go further with the programme."

The MotoGP champion has tested for Ferrari three times already, and Rossi claimed last month he felt he was fast enough to be competitive in F1.

Asked whether he could envisage Rossi having his first four-wheeled race experience in a Formula One Ferrari, he said: "I think we need to see how things progress before we make those sort of predictions or scenarios.

"I think the thing that's difficult to give Valentino in the shorter term is four-wheel racing experience," added Brawn. "I think you can see very clear that he's got the ability to drive a car quickly.

"Once he learns all the nuances of driving a car quickly then he's going to be very fast. I see no reason why he shouldn't (race in Formula One)."

Media speculation has suggested that Ferrari could be planning to line up Rossi and McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen in a dream team for 2007 if World Champion Michael Schumacher retires.

"It's a nice ring to the names isn't it, Raikkonen and Rossi," Brawn added.