Source Sky website
Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn has admitted that he may 'have got ahead' of himself when discussing plans for MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi to run with the Scuderia on a regular basis.
There has been considerable hype about the Italian linking up with the Prancing Horse, possibly even landing a full-time F1 race deal for 2007 and beyond, but Brawn told journalists in Brazil that earlier ill-advised comments may have fuelled the fire a little too much.
"I probably got ahead of myself because I was asked how do you go about turning Valentino Rossi into a grand prix driver, and to me that is how you would do it," he said about comments suggesting Rossi would test every month with Ferrari.
"That would be the programme to follow if Valentino wanted to go grand prix racing, but he has indicated that he has not made that decision yet, so I think we need to wait and see what he wants to do. Obviously, he is the final arbitrator of what he does - I don't determine that.
"But, if he does want to do it, I think I outlined how would be the best way to approach it. Obviously, he is still in the middle of a championship and is committed to race next year in MotoGP, so we will have to wait and see."
Brawn also admitted that suggestions Rossi had already signed a deal with the Scuderia were wide of the mark.
"I would hope that, if Valentino wanted to get into Formula One, he would do it with Ferrari, because it is a nice combination," he said, "but there is no confirmed contract with him to do so.
"He has done two tests for us now, got on very well with our people, and our guys found it very exciting to have him there, so naturally it is very attractive. But I think he will look at all his options and make his decision when he has to make it.
"As our president said, nobody is holding a gun to his head. He has to make the decisions he feels are right for him. We would certainly be interested in working with him in the future, but that is something that we will have to wait and see. I don't think anything is committed - he wants to get his championship out of the way and decide what he is going to do."