The MotoGP legend took part in several tests of a ๊Ferrari Formula 1 car between 2004-2006 which rꦡemain part of motorsport folklore.

The Doctor, it was reported a🐭t the time, lapped in times competitive to Michael Schumacher’s 🌱and had the support of the Ferrari president to make a full-time switch to F1.

He opened up on the saga on Gianluc🐲a Gazzoli’s podcast this year: “It was true in the sense that, in 2004 when I won with Yamaha, Stefano Domenicali called me and he said ‘I have to🌟 let you test the car’. 

“We went to Fiorano to test the car. I was pretty fast and I lapped under the minuꦆ🌱te - 59’1. 

“I remember that the mechanics were bett꧂ing on whether I would lap above or below one minute and, in the end, I won.

“Then after those tests I we✤nt to Mugello. I also did a real test in Valencia. 

“And there I had to choose. If I had said yes I would have raced with Minardi,ဣ𓃲 the B team. 

“And then if I had gone fast enough the goal and༒ the path would haꦦve been to race with Ferrari.”

Italy-based Minardi were taken o꧋ver by Red Bull and renamed Toro Rosso in 2006. They would go on t⛎o use Ferrari engines.

But their hope of luring two-wheel icon a🔜nd Italian sporting legend Rossi ended iꦜn failure.

“I was still 27 years old and I didn't feel like making this leap because I knew I could win a few more titles and get satisfaction from motorcycling,” he s🌜aid.&nb🅷sp;

“For me the motorbike has alw꧟ays been the best. 

“In the end I did very well, even if the curiosity remained, I don'🃏t know what 𒐪I could have done…

“But I won many iconic races and t🌜wo world championships 🉐and I did well like that."

Rossi had previously told Graham Bensinger’s podcast: “For F1, I had a plan, but ꧙it was not straight with Ferrari.

"It was to start with ꦉa small team, tr🎐y to make some experience, and after if I am fast enough I’d arrive to Ferrari. But I had a lot of question marks.

"I also had a lot of pressure from my side - ‘Go with the car, go with Ferrari’ becaus🗹e it’s something big.

"Everybody when I tried to explain and try🌟 to ask for help for my decision, they said to me ‘you have to go to F1’. Also, my mother, foౠr example.

"I think I had to decide myself, and ♈in my heart, I think I had to stay with MotoGP."

Rossi amassed seven MotoGP chamꩵpionships and now, at th꧑e age of 42, races on four wheels.

Next yearღ he intends to compete at the w💙orld-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.