Fisichella disses Rossi - 7th September 20:37pm GMT

Italian Formula 1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella said on Wednesday there was little chance that fellow Italian and motorcycling star Valentino Rossi could ever make it as a Formula 1 driver .

Fisichella, who started his career racing go-karts as a boy, said the 27-year-old Rossi lacked the experience to perform well in Formula 1, even if he was taken on and coached by a top team like Ferrari .

"No, he's a great champion on a motorbike but he's too old for Formula 1 now. He just hasn't got the experience of someone who started when he was eight," he said, apparently referring to himself .

The 32-year-old Renault driver, who has won two grand prix races in his career, added that persistent talk of a future for Rossi in Ferrari's Formula 1 team was mostly hype .

"Something that isn't really likely to happen is being blown up out of all proportion," he added .

The universally popular Rossi, who is heading for his fifth straight world title in motorcycling's top class, has already tried out a Ferrari Formula 1 car several times .

According to the team's technical director, he will continue to do so every month over the winter. This has fueled speculation in the media that Ferrari and Rossi are seriously considering a future together .

Italian sports fans - along with sponsors and marketing people - are thrilled by the idea that Rossi might try to be the first Italian driver to win a title in a Ferrari since Alberto Ascari in 1953 .

But Fisichella was unimpressed by all the talk. "They're doing tests partly for publicity reasons," he said, referring to Rossi's frequent appearances at Ferrari's practice track.