Badoer will replace Massa until his return

Luca Badoer has confirmed that he will continue to serve as Ferrari’s race driver until Felipe Massa returns. The 38-year-old Italian, whose last Formula 1 race was in 1999 (Japanese Grand Prix), is making his Grand Prix comeback this weekend in Valencia. This information was also confirmed by a spokesperson for Scuderia.

Badoer stated in the traditional Thursday press conference before the weekend that knowing his new position for several races puts less pressure on him for this weekend’s Grand Prix: « If I only had Valencia, meaning only one chance, I would be very worried, and I would try to do everything, maybe with a lot of pressure and maybe with a lot of mistakes, but that’s not the case, because I have the place until Felipe returns. So I have some time to improve. »

Badoer, who was called to replace Michael Schumacher since the seven-time world champion was forced to cancel his comeback due to a neck injury, added that he felt calm on the verge of this true return to F1: « My last race was about 10 years ago, but over the past ten years, I have done nearly 150,000 kms in the sport. »

« I’m even used to doing the equivalent of two races in a day of testing, so I’m not really worried about this aspect. I’m used to racing because I have several under my belt. Someone who has never raced would probably have a problem, but I know that I have experience, so I have an idea of what to expect. I’m in a better position than someone who hasn’t done a race, so at the moment I’m very calm. »

« Yes, I am very excited because it’s my dream. Driving a Ferrari in F1 was simply a dream. I am going to do it and I am the happiest driver in the world, » he concluded.