Todt Skeptical Rossi Could Make Switch to F1

Ferrari team principal Jean Todt said he remains skeptical on whether MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi could make a successful switch to Formula One.

26-year-old Rossi, who clinched a sensational fourth consecutive title in MotoGP last year, tested for World Champions Ferrari in April and the Italian impressed his counterpart in Formula One, World Champion Michael Schumacher, who was present during the test at Fiorano.

But Todt said there was not enough indication whether Rossi could be successful in Formula One.

"If one day he'll ask us to drive our car again, we'll be happy to please him," the Frenchman told reporters at Ferrari's press event in the Madonna di Campiglio. "But to learn to race in F1 requires time.

"Rossi is certainly an extraordinary rider on the bike. But are we sure that he could immediately do well in F1? Schumi is a Champion too, but I don't think he'd be able to repeat Valentino's success if tomorrow he jumped on a MotoGP bike."

Rossi has been linked with a switch to Formula One on several occasions, but the Italian has ruled it out for the near future.