By Nick Sparkes
January 31 2006

Jarno has sent Valentino Rossi a message of good will before his first test with the big boys at Valencia. Rossi has been tipped to join Ferrari in 2007 as a possible race driver, but today drove his first laps with the front runners having spent most of his time at Ferrari's private test track. Jarno was the second driver to welcome Rossi to the F1 paddock, with Mark Webber calling it a "brave move". Jarno sent a letter to the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello, writing:

"Let me to welcome you in F1 with a smile, also on behalf of my colleagues, who will not only be anxious to observe you, but also to meet you and to chat with you."

"We have been waiting for you after reading what you were up to in Fiorano and Mugello. But even I didn't think you would compare yourself so soon with us. Being a few years older than you, allow me to give you some advice: don't look at the chronometer; do things calmly; start to understand how the car behaves as the fuel load decreases, how the various set of tyres perform, how to lay down strategies."

"You will see that it is a fascinating but very tough job. Speak a lot to your team engineers and ask questions. Remember that, to drive 1.5 seconds off the track record is easy, but the last two tenths will make it difficult for you! In the meantime, hats off to you for the courage you're showing this time too. And keep up the good work!"

The test didn't go well for Rossi, who missed the morning because of bad weather, and then spun his Ferrari into the gravel trap during the afternoon.