Rossi to Ferrari in 2007??

I just spotted this at
http://www.italiaspeed.com/2005/motorsport/f1/ferrari/08/2908.html
Bummers

Italian newspaper La Repubblica has claimed today that Kimi Raikkonen
and Valentino Rossi have both signed to drive for Scuderia Ferrari in 2007.

The all-new line-up the respected newspaper reports - without
identifying sources - will replace Michael Schumacher (whose existing
Ferrari contract runs out at the end of 2006), and Brazilian stop-gap
driver Felipe Massa (who was handed a one-year contract earlier this
month when Rubens Barrichello unexpectedly announced he was switching to
the BAR-Honda team at the end of this F1 season).

Ferrari's top management have reputedly long been admirers of Kimi
Raikkonen's speed, talent and car ability. Over the last fortnight much
speculation has surrounded the possibility of the rapid Finn leaving the
McLaren-Mercedes team to drive for Ferrari in 2007, with Schumacher
reportedly going the other way. However, in light of Ferrari's recent
dip in fortunes and the McLaren-Mercedes being the in-form car, it does
seems an odd prospect at present. Raikkonen is currently in second place
in the drivers' championship, 24 points behind Fernando Alonso, with
just five races remaining. Only a lack of mechanical reliability from
his McLaren-Mercedes has stopped him from comfortably topping the F1
points table.

However, with most of Ferrari's problems this year centering around
their tyre supplier Bridgestone's inability to provide a tyre compound
that can compete with Michelin's 2005 offerings, their period of poor
results is very unlikely to last, and in fact the Scuderia is hard at
work already on next years car and engine package, with their new V8
unit - designed for 2006's revised regulations - recently making its
track debut in testing.

Meanwhile, Valentino Rossi inched his way even closer to yet another
MotoGP crown yesterday, as he raced to an impressive victory in the
Gauloises Ceske Republiky Grand Prix. Having now boosted his points
tally to 261, the Italian will hope to clinch the MotoGP title during
the next round, the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, which will be held in
seventeen days' time.

La Repubblica reports that Rossi - who has already tested an F1 car
several times for Ferrari - will sign an 80 million euro, three year
contract with the Scuderia, to run from 2007-09. Rossi - nicknamed 'The
Doctor' - is one of sports most flamboyant characters and a marketing
dream ticket, and has attracted legions of new fans to MotoGP dazzled by
his antics and personlity. Ferrari's major sponsors' are believed to be
very anxious to get him on-board, with Marlboro (if they continue retain
a presence after tobacco advertising is abolished) and mobile phone
giant Vodafone, both expected to stump up towards his wages. The 26-year
old Italian - who recently signed a one year extension to his MotoGP
Yamaha contract to take him up to the end of the 2006 season - would
have to terminate the existing mobile phone deal he currently holds with
Telecom Italia in order to join Ferrari.

La Repubblica also claimed this morning that Marlboro - which is part of
the US Altria Group - is negotiating with Rossi end the present
sponsorship contract he holds with the French Gauloise cigarette brand,
which is owned by Altria's rivals, Altadis SA.

 

Ooops - sorry - reposted to wrong Newsgroup