Grapevine: Rossi Can Make F1 Switch, Says Surtees

John Surtees won world championships on two wheels and four and the Briton sees no reason why Valentino Rossi should not do likewise one day.

"I think it's quite possible," the 1964 Formula One champion, now 70 but still energetically involved in motorsport, told Reuters. He said however that the next few MotoGP races could be crucial in helping the Italian showman to make up his mind.

"I like his approach to motorcycling - not the showmanship, but the approach relative to getting the job done is very similar to how I think I approached it myself at my peak," he said. "The big question will be whether he chooses the right point, if he does decide to change."

Surtees won seven motorcycling titles in the 350 and 500cc classes between 1956 to 1960 before deciding that he needed a fresh challenge. In only his second Grand Prix with Lotus in 1960, he finished second and then went on to win the Championship with Ferrari, still the only man to have won in both series.

Rossi, 25, has won five motorcycling championships and is on course for a sixth this year after switching from Honda to Yamaha.

Still Young

"He's still a young man, but if he feels that he's achieved what he wanted to and has got his ambitions and doesn't see there being much more to prove, then that certainly is a time to go to new fields," said Surtees.

"That is the way I felt, that I can only win what I've won before. I think that a lot will depend on whether he gets the championship this year.

"To get it this year, jumping from Honda like he did to Yamaha, will be a tremendous effort on everybody's part ... if he's very serious of changing, then probably if he does win it (this year) that will be the time."

Rossi tested a Ferrari at their Fiorano test track in April and was quick enough to impress World Champion Michael Schumacher.

"If he does decide to change, he will obviously need to get more testing and evaluate himself as to whether he in fact is able to do the times," said Surtees. "Unless you can actually do the speed fairly quickly, there's no point.

"The only reason I got a drive and was put in a Formula One car after just two drives was because I did times as good as the people who were racing the cars.

"The same will apply to him. If he sits in the car, he goes out and actually does times which appear to be competitive then he can build upon it. You don't really find speed," added the Briton. "You've either got speed there or you haven't."

With three Formula One teams facing an uncertain future, there has been speculation in Italy that the crowd-pleasing Rossi could have a chance should Ferrari run three cars next year to make up the starting grid.

Surtees said the change of disciplines should not be too great a leap.

"I think it's possible because frankly, with modern day technology and the way the two sports have developed ... I think that if anything they've come closer," he said.