Maranello, 11 August 2009

On the day of the news that it will be impossible for Michael Schumacher to race for Felipe Massa as of the European GP, there's a man at Maranello who's feelings are divided today. On one side he feels sorry for his friend who has to renounce to the idea of getting back to the track, which appealed to him and the Ferrari fans a lot, but on the other side he's happy that a dream might come true. "Since I've been a child I always wanted to race for Ferrari and now I've got the possibility to make this desire come true" - Luca Badoer said www.ferrari.com - "I'm really sorry for Michael, because I know how much he wanted to return: I'm saying that as his friend and his fan. We've been in contact during the last days and we drove karts together at Lonato last week. So I followed him very closely in this attempt. Last night he called me a couple of minutes after Stefano Domenicali had told me the news and I know that he'll always be ready to give me some advice and he will shout for me."



For Luca the F60 is not completely new. He didn't have the possibility to drive the car thousands of miles he was used to with the other F1 cars, but as the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro test driver he had the possibility to get into the car's cockpit. From a physical point of view Luca has always kept fit. "Although this year's rules foresee a drastically reduced mileage for us test drivers, I have prepared myself to be ready under any circumstances, just as I've been doing the last years too; I've been in this business for quite a while. After Felipe's accident I intensified my programme and I'm sure that I won't have any problems from this point of view."
There are three special dedications Luca wants to end his first interview as the driver of the single-seater with number 3: "My first thought goes to Felipe. I was shocked about his accident and I'm so glad that the situation is getting better so quickly: I wish him all the best and to get back on the track as soon as possible. I also want to thank Luca di Montezemolo and Stefano Domenicali for the faith they put in me and for the honour that they are handing the car over to me: I will give it my best for them and for all the Ferrari fans, who - and I'm sure about that - will give me their support."