Rossi to test for Ferrari

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn said the testing programme would allow both parties to "make a reasonable judgement" about Rossi's potential.

"He is already as quick as an F1 driver in the slow corners," said Brawn.

"It is just a question of him now getting used to the braking in the high-speed corners."

Rossi, Italy's highest-earning sportsman, is on his way to a fifth world MotoGP title, but has also fitted in two tests for Ferrari this year.

I would expect he would be in the car once a month or once every six weeks Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn

"This winter and next year he'll do a few more serious tests," added Brawn.

"It's a kind of open-ended agreement.

"There are some objectives. He's going to try and have more time next year to devote to this and I would expect he would be in the car once a month or once every six weeks.

"I think it will be a reasonable programme to have continuity and make a proper judgement."

Rossi is a god on a bike, but my gut feeling is he will be just average in a car From Nuvo Have your say on Five Live

Rossi recently signed a one-year extension to his Yamaha contract, taking him up to the end of 2006.

He would then be available to sign for Ferrari should an offer be forthcoming.

"I think there's a huge potential from a driver point of view and from a commercial point of view you can imagine the potential it would have as well," said Brawn.

Only one man - Briton John Surtees - has won world titles on two wheels and four when he switched to Formula One with Ferrari and took the championship in 1964.