Badoer, Gene, stay as Ferrari test drivers

Luca Badoer and Marc Gene will remain test drivers at Ferrari in 2010, it emerged on the day of the launch of the Italian team’s 2010 car.

The Italian and the Spaniard were both present as the wraps came off the F10 at Maranello, despite Giancarlo Fisichella being presented as the full time reserve driver.

“Giancarlo will be our third driver, but Marc and Luca complete our driver lineup,” said team boss Stefano Domenicali.

Ferrari said a record three million viewers watched the launch event live on its official website, which caused it to “freeze for a couple of seconds in several moments”.

Meanwhile, the marque’s president Luca di Montezemolo said it was he who convinced Michael Schumacher to return to the F1 grid.

The Italian said that if three car entries were allowed, the German would now “be promoting not red Mercedes but red Ferraris”.

Montezemolo also raised the possibility of Valentino Rossi racing a Ferrari in 2011.

© RIF|GMM