When Morbidelli raced for Ferrari

Australian GP, Adelaide, November 3 1991
Ferrari 643

Some of the best days that I look back on were in Italian Formula 3, which I won in 1989, and also my win in the European Cup [at Misano].

That led to me being signed to a three-year contract by Ferrari to be its test driver,
so I got to work with Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell, which was like a dream for a young driver. Prost was my idol! Then one day I got to replace him at Ferrari...

I was in my very early twenties. At that time, drivers didn't arrive in F1 at such a young age, like today, so it was brilliant racing with Minardi and testing with Ferrari. Then I got to race for Ferrari [Prost was sacked for criticising the team], which was an incredible moment. I only got the call while I was on holiday in Port Douglas to say I would be driving for Ferrari, not Minardi, at 11 o'clock on the Tuesday night before the race weekend.

I had to ask the pitwall on the radio during practice: "Am I dreaming?" My testing experience meant I knew the car very well, and I qualified eighth alongside Jean [Alesi, his team-mate].

It was, in many ways, a very unlucky day for me because of the weather conditions.
It rained so much that it was the shortest grand prix in Formula 1 history.

It was very dangerous; there were many incidents and it was impossible to see the track.

I can honestly say I did my best that day. If I had finished on the podium, maybe Ferrari would have given me a contract for the next year. Life would have changed for me. Sometimes you have to be lucky, and things are never simple.

Morbidelli finished third, but was moved to sixth © LAT

I actually crossed the finish line in third place, behind [Ayrton] Senna and [Nelson] Piquet, but they put me back to sixth place because of the red-flag rules.

Morally I was third, but you have to accept what life throws at you. I was driving for the biggest team in the world, so I think I can be satisfied with what I did.

Who knows what would have happened if it had stopped raining and we had restarted? Maybe if the race had gone on another two laps I'd have crashed into the wall, like Jean did!

I did get to stand on the podium in Adelaide in 1995 for Arrows. I felt I was in credit
with the circuit - I had my revenge!

In a way that was an even greater moment. Working with Alan Jenkins and Jackie Oliver was fantastic, so it was such a great feeling to achieve what we did together.

Gianni Morbidelli was speaking to Charles Bradley

IN PROFILE

Gianni Morbidelli drove in Formula 1 from 1990-97 for Minardi, Ferrari, Arrows/Footwork and Sauber. His final F1 season was shortened when he fractured his wrist at Suzuka.

After leaving F1, Morbidelli went on to drive in the British, European and World Touring Car championships. In 2009 he won the Middle Eastern-based Speedcar Series, and this year he secured his fourth Superstars title driving an Audi RS5.

F1 STATS

Starts: 67
Best finish: 3rd (1995 Australian GP)
Best qualifying: 6th (1994 Brazilian GP)
Fastest laps: 0
Points: 8.5