Luca Badoer can claim to be a veteran of the International Press Ski Meeting, currently underway at Madonna di Campiglio. This is the Italian driver’s sixth appearance here in his role as Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro test driver. “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. 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.”

The Italian tester has already started testing for the forthcoming season, running at the Barcelona and Jerez circuits. “During the winter tests, we have worked on tyre development, doing a very high mileage for Bridgestone. 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 was asked for his opinion on the suggestion that current Formula 1 cars are too easy to drive. “I don’t agree,” he replied. “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.”