Q&A: Luca Badoer.

Veteran Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer has been apart of the Scuderia for a long, long time, never really in the limelight, but constantly on track, testing this, and testing that.

Here the Italian, speaking at the Madonna di Campiglio, as part of the International Ski Meeting 2004, talks about his job and why he loves it so much.

Q:
Luca, you are now in your seventh year with Ferrari, how would you sum it up?

Luca Badoer:
These seven years have flown by and this can only mean that I have always felt comfortable at Ferrari. We have achieved some great results and I can only be proud to have been part of it all. I don't want to claim any particular merit though as at Ferrari we work as a team and so everyone, without exception, deserves credit. The best moment was, without a doubt, the first world title. I have been through some trying times: at Barcelona in 2000 I broke three vertebrae in an accident and only found out 15 days later. It took months to recover.

Q:
Testing is vitally important at all times of the year, however in January, with the launch of the new cars it takes on a different shape. You've been assigned the task of shaking down the new 2004 Ferrari car. Tell us about that and testing at this time of year?

LB:
During the winter tests we always try new things, from aerodynamics to the engine and other things. The parts are all derived from last year's car but, obviously, are not all the same. Naturally, we are working a lot on the engine as this year's regulations allow us to use only one engine for the whole three days of the Grand Prix weekend. We are also working on the tyres because there is a lot of competition out there.

Q:
How have the new regulations affected your work?

LB:
Sometimes we work from nine in the morning to six in the evening, without a break. When we are on our home circuits we work even longer because we stop for meetings and technical briefings. We always have to concentrate and it is hard to always be alert. At times our job is more intense than a driver's during a Grand Prix but we test drivers don't have to deal with the stress of competition. The greatest satisfaction is seeing the data that, after an intense week of testing, shows improvements in lap times and for each sector.

Q:
Williams-BMW seemed very fast during the session held over the past few days at Jerez de la Frontera. What did you make of this given your experience?

LB:
The new season will be as demanding as it was in 2003. The era of absolute domination is over; with the new rules everything has changed. I think I prefer things like this, at least it is more interesting for the fans.
Q:
With Maserati's return to competition, there has been talk of you making the switch to become a House of the Trident driver. What can you tell us about those rumours?

LB:
I worked in helping to develop the Maserati Trofeo and also the new 'light' version. It's all hearsay though - so at the moment I am focusing on the Formula 1 championship because it's my job. I don't think about anything else.

Q:
Finally what will you do when you stop working as a test driver for the Scuderia?

LB:
I have a great relationship with Ferrari, from a technical and a personal point of view. Working for Ferrari is the ultimate for me. I like driving Formula 1 cars and now I can be at the wheel of the best F1 in the world. I prefer being a test driver for Ferrari than drive for another team. I will go on doing this job for as long as I can.