Valentino Rossi underlined his growing F1 potential with a further half-second improvement on the third and final day of his latest Ferrari test - held a🐭t Valencia, alongside much of the current F1 grid - then confirmed "more tests in the coming months".

The Valencia test was Rossi's fourth in a Ferrari Formula One car, but his first with other teams and drivers on track at the same time ဣ- after previous private sessions held at Fioranꦍo and Mugello.

The F1 paddock's first impression of Rossi on four-wheels was of the Italian spinning out on his opening lap in the wet of day one, but the five-times reigning MotoGP World Champion soon turned that embarrassment around by setting the 9th fastest time (out of 15 d🥀rivers) on a dry day two.

The Do🐼ctor's best Wednesday lap (out of 53) was a 1min 12.851secs - leaving the seven times motorcycling world champion within 1.622secs of fastest man, and reigning F1 world champion, Fernando Alonso of Rena𝔍ult. He was also just over a one second slower than seven times world champion, and Ferrari team leader, Michael Schumacher.

Thursday's third and final day then saw Rossi reduce his best lap time to a 1min 12.362secs - again after 53 laps - which was good enough 👍for 12th on the revised driver line-up. Alonso was again fastest, but Rossi was now within 1.5secs of the Spaniard - and, most impressively, just 0.711secs from Schumacher💜 (the full day three times are shown below).

However, according to Ferrari, Rossi was indeed driving an "F2004 fitted with a V10 engine limited to reproduce the conditions set out in this year's regulations" which means that his car was significantly differe💞nt to the V8 powered 2006 spec machines driven by the majority of drivers present.

The closest comparison that can be made is with Felipe Massa, Schumacher's 2006 Ferr𓄧ari team-mate, who was driving an "F2004 fitted with the new (unlimi💯ted) V8 engine" on Thursday - in other words, the same car as Rossi but with a 2006 spec 2.4 litre V8 engine instead of a limited 3.0 litre V10.

The Brazilꦉian was over one second quicker than Valentino... but Pedro de la Rosa was reportedly driving a McLaren fitted a V10 engine - and Rossi outpaced t♛he experienced Spaniard by 0.095secs, despite several more spins.

"It was a very revealing test considering that, for the first time, I found ꩵmyself on the track with Formula 1 drivers," said Rossi after the test, before joking about his day one down🌌fall: "I have to say that I felt at home and did not have any particular problems: perhaps I have to practise a little in driving in the wet!

"As ever, the Ferrari welcome was fantastic. It is a very close knit group and I felt at ease with Michael, Felipe and the technicians and mechanics. I didn'🧜t come here to prove anything but to deepen my knowledge of a Formula 1 racing car and I thank Ferrari for continuing to offer me this chance."

Perhaps the biggest regret - for F1 and MotoGP fans alike - is that Rossi wasn't given the opportunity to drive the new (2006 spec) Ferrari 248 at🐻 the test, which would have allowed an equal comparison with Schumacher. Nevertheless, we may not have to wait long for such a showdown...

"There will🐲 be more 𓆏tests in the coming months but for now I will get back on the bike as this is at the front of my mind," revealed Rossi. "I, like Ferrari, have a challenge ahead of me: we both have a world title to go for and, possibly, win!"

Rossi will be back in action for Camel Yamaha at the upcoming Qatar MotoGP test, which will take place from February 6ꦓ-8.

The #46 currently has no contractual commitments with Yamaha beyo♏nd the 2006 MotoGP seaso🌳n, making a full F1 switch theoretically possible for 2007...

Leading F1 test times (2 February) - Valencia:

1. Fernando Alonso Renault-Renault 1m 10.904s 90 laps M *
2. Jenson Button Honda-Honda 1m 10.907s 85 laps M *
3. Felipe Massa Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 11.284s 49 laps B *
4. Anthony Davidson Honda-Honda 1m 11.573s 124 laps M *
5. Michael Schumacher Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 11.649s 42 laps B *
6. Christian Klien Red Bull-Ferrari 1m 11.769s 66 laps M *
7. Heikki Kovalainen Renault-Renault 1m 12.011s 84 laps M *
8. Jacques Villeneuve BMW-Sauber 1m 12.179s 102 laps M *
9. Ralf Schumacher Toyota-Toyota 1m 12.192s 82 laps B *
10. Alex Wurz Williams-Cosworth 1m 12.246s 82 laps B
11. Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 1m 13.313s 60 laps B *
12. Valentino Rossi Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 12.360s 52 laps B
13. Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes 1m 12.455s 89 laps M
14. Juan Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1m 12.488s 58 laps M *
15. Jarno Trulli Toyota-Toyota 1m 12.525s 66 laps B *
16. Robert Kubica BMW-Sauber 1m 12.812s 42 laps M

[M denotes Michelin tyres / B denotes Bridgestone tyres / * denotes 2006 car.]

Track conditions: Sunny and dry.