From GMM
According to a leading Italian magazine, Italian Luca Badoer is leaving the Scuderia Ferrari after a long tenure as test driver.
The almost 40-year-old Italian has been in the role since the late 90s, and according to Autosprint magazine he accumulated more than 130,000 kilometres at Fiorano in Ferrari's F1 cars during that period.
But Badoer was heavily criticised for his lack of competitiveness when he replaced the injured Felipe Massa in the Brazilian's race cockpit mid last year.
Autosprint said Badoer, who raced 58 other times for minor Italian teams throughout the 90s, is now leaving the team.
The magazine said his last laps in a F1 car were during the recent Valencia celebrations, when he reacquainted with the F60 he raced three times in 2009.
Ferrari announced last month that 21-year-old Frenchman Jules Bianchi has been signed as a test driver for 2011.
Also contracted in test roles are Giancarlo Fisichella and Marc Gené.
According to a leading Italian magazine, Italian Luca Badoer is leaving the Scuderia Ferrari after a long tenure as test driver.
The almost 40-year-old Italian has been in the role since the late 90s, and according to Autosprint magazine he accumulated more than 130,000 kilometres at Fiorano in Ferrari's F1 cars during that period.
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| Marc Gené, Giancarlo Fisichella and Luca Badoer at the Ferrari Mondiali 2010 in Valencia. (Photo: Ferrari) |
But Badoer was heavily criticised for his lack of competitiveness when he replaced the injured Felipe Massa in the Brazilian's race cockpit mid last year.
Autosprint said Badoer, who raced 58 other times for minor Italian teams throughout the 90s, is now leaving the team.
 |
| A heavy crash for Badoer at Spa in the works Ferrari. (Photo: WRI2) |
The magazine said his last laps in a F1 car were during the recent Valencia celebrations, when he reacquainted with the F60 he raced three times in 2009.
Ferrari announced last month that 21-year-old Frenchman Jules Bianchi has been signed as a test driver for 2011.
Also contracted in test roles are Giancarlo Fisichella and Marc Gené.
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| Luca Badoer driving for Minardi in F1. (Photo: WRI2) |
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| Presentation of the Ferrari team in 2004. (Photo: WRI2) |