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

The Doctor, it was reported at 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 t🦹he saga on Gianluca 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 ౠthe car’. 

“We went to Fiorano to test the ꦜcar. I was p🎀retty fast and I lapped under the minute - 59’1. 

🦩“I remember ꩲthat the mechanics were betting on whether I would lap above or below one minute and, in the end, I won.

“Then after those tests I went to Mugello. ꦰI also did a real test in Valencia.&nb💧sp;

“And there I had to choose. If ൩I had said yes I would have raced ไwith Minardi, the B team. 

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

Italy-based Minardi were taken overജ by Red Bull and renamed Toro Rosso in 2006ও. They would go on to use Ferrari engines.

But their hope of luring two-wheel icon and Italian sporting lege✅nd Rossi ended in 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 said. 

“For me the motorbikꦦe has always been t🐽he best. 

“In the end I did ꦕvery well, even if the curiosity remained, I don't know what I could have ꦓdone…

“🃏But I won many iconic races and two world champion🐻ships and I did well like that."

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

"It was to start with a small team💫, try 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 pre💝ssure from my side - ‘Go with⭕ the car, go with Ferrari’ because 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, for example.

"I think I had to decide myself, and in my heart, I think I ha𒐪d to stay wit🍸h MotoGP."

Rossi amassed seven MotoGP championships and🐲 now, at the age of 42, races on four w🎃heels.

Next year he intends to compete at the world-famous 24 Hours of ꦆLe Mans❀.