Rossi has the talent for F1, says Schumacher

Motorcycling world champion Valentino Rossi can make the leap to Formula One, according to Ferrari's Michael Schumacher.

"Absolutely, it's completely possible for him," the seven-times champion said yesterday.

"He has enough talent to get there. I would even say that it is easier to go from bikes to cars than the other way round," added the German, who tested a Ducati MotoGP bike last year.

"And when, like him, you have this special feeling on two wheels, you can use it perfectly on four wheels."

Rossi, 26, was in his third and final day of his most serious test yet with Ferrari yesterday, taking to the track alongside other Formula One drivers at the Valencia circuit in eastern Spain.

The Italian won rave reviews for his performance on Wednesday when he lapped little more than a second slower than Schumacher and faster than six other drivers after an embarrassing spin on Tuesday.

"Rossi astonishes," declared Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport in a front page headline, with drivers applauding the MotoGP champion.

"It's nice that he's driving with us," said BMW's Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 champion.

"Looking at how he's going, however, he should give up motorbikes and join us."