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There are some journalists in the Formula 1
paddock who did not even known what Luca Badoer
looks like, as it is ten years since he last
raced in the category! The Scuderia Ferrari
driver started his weekend
attending the official FIA
press conference, sitting next to the youngest
driver on the grid, Jaime Alguersuari, who is
half Badoer's age.
While the first
question to the drivers revolved around what they done on
their holiday in this first official F1 break, Badoer naturally had a
different tale to tell. “I
did not have a holiday,”
said the Italian. “I just
worked very hard in a
physical way because after
Felipe’s accident and after
Michael tried to drive the
car it was very clear for us
that if Michael was not able
to do it, then it was my
turn. I kept really
concentrating and thinking
about everything I could do
to be in the best position
for the race. I did really a
lot of training. Apart from
working in the gym, I drove
a go kart because I think it
is very good for general
training. Obviously I did
the special training for the
neck with my special machine
to improve all the muscles
and the resistance of the
heart so I was pushing
really hard.”
While it might
be a long time since Badoer saw the lights go out
on an F1 grid, he was keen
to prove his credentials for
the job. “I mean my last
race was 10 years ago more
or less but I did in these
10 years close to 150,000kms
with a Formula One car. I am
used to doing two race
distances in one day because
of the tests sometimes we
did two races in a day, so
it is not that really I am
worried for this aspect of
the situation. I am used to
the race as before I did a
lot of them. If you think
for somebody that had never
raced maybe it is a problem,
but I know what it was in
the past so I have an idea.
I am in a better position
than somebody who didn’t
have a race so at the end
and at the moment I am very
calm, very quiet. I did
F3000, F3, go-karts, so this
was just a pause. I’ve raced
in the past, I can race
again in the future, so
honestly, for me Valencia
will be a race in which I
have to learn everything, I
have to get used to being
back in the car because it’s
a long time since I drove –
it’s not so long, but it’s
enough. So I have to drive a
lot on Friday. I have to get
used to this kind of
qualifying and I have to get
used to being at a race
again, so if I had only
Valencia, only one chance, I
would be very worried, and I
would try to do everything,
and maybe with a lot of
pressure and maybe with a
lot of mistakes but that’s
not the case, because until
Felipe comes back, the car
is mine so I have some time
in which to improve, to
develop the situation.”
As Scuderia
Ferrari was very
transparent with the media
in terms of explaining its
thinking behind finding
Massa’s replacement, it is
clear that Badoer was not
the first choice for this
job, as at first, it had
been hoped that Michael
Schumacher would make a
comeback. “Honestly,
I’m a big fan of Michael as
well. It was also fine and
good for me to see him again
on the track. I have spent a
lot of time with him
recently as we drove
go-karts together. As I said
before, I have a great
relationship with him. We
are very good friends. So we
lived through this moment
together. It was funny
because we knew immediately
that it was him or me and
honestly, I don’t feel that
to replace Michael
Schumacher is like a second
choice or a bad choice,
because I’m replacing the
best champion in the world
at the moment.”
And the final obvious
question, is Badoer excited
by his Ferrari race debut? “In a way I am
very excited as this is my
dream. To drive for Ferrari
in Formula One was for all
my life being simply a
dream. Now I can have it and
I am the most happy driver
in the world.”
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