Badoer still happy at Ferrari

Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer took his turn in front of the press conference at the Ferrari ski weekend in Madonna di Campiglio and said he would continue to do the job he enjoys for as long as he can. Badoer has been test driver for the Scuderia ...

Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer took his turn in front of the press conference at the Ferrari ski weekend in Madonna di Campiglio and said he would continue to do the job he enjoys for as long as he can. Badoer has been test driver for the Scuderia since 1997 and finds the important role still keeps him interested and motivated.

"I am undertaking work that is very tough and of fundamental importance to a Formula 1 team," said Badoer. "We do so many kilometres to develop the car and tyres and you have to give it your all and get the most out of it. At the end of a day's testing, you have to give all your impressions on the car's behaviour to the engineers, who then pass this information onto the race team."

Press conference with Luca Badoer.

Photo by Ferrari Media Center.

"Even though I am not involved in a competitive activity there is plenty to stimulate me as part of such an important team. Improving something as good as a Ferrari is always motivating. I like my work a lot and will continue to do it for as long as I can."

Badoer has already been putting in the track time over the winter in Barcelona and Jerez, although some of the electronic tests the team have been running may now be negated due to the FIA rule changes announced yesterday.

"During the winter tests, we have worked on tyre development, doing a very high mileage for Bridgestone," he said. "We have also spent a lot of time on development of new electronics. Obviously, in the light of FIA's announcement yesterday, we will have to see if the results of these tests will still be applicable."

Badoer thinks that current F1 cars are not too easy to drive with all the electronic aids, because even with them a driver is still pushing himself as hard as he can: "It is always very difficult to drive a car on the limit. It is true that when we did not have an automatic gearbox or power-steering, the cars were physically more demanding to drive. However, it happens in races, be they in Formula 1 or in karting that you have to give your maximum and it is never easy."