Grapevine: Rossi Rules Out Formula One Switch

Italy's MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi has ruled out driving a Formula One car in the near future.

The 24-year-old Italian, who won his third consecutive world title last weekend with victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix, light-heartedly dismissed any idea that he might make a move to Formula One in the near future.

Ferrari became the latest Formula One team to offer Rossi a test drive earlier this week but the five-times world champion, who won the 125cc series in 1997 and 250cc crown in 1999, said any move to four wheels would not come anytime soon.

"Maybe it's possible in the future but it's not easy to drive a Formula One car," Rossi said today in Australia. "I won't drive a Formula One for two or three years. It's all news to me. It's another story.

"I am very happy to have an offer from Ferrari. When I hear this I say 'ah, very good'. But I don't know when it is possible."