Schumacher may retire - whether or not he wins an eighth title this year - and several drivers including Finn Kimi Raikkonen, now with McLaren-Mercedes- Benz, are in the running to either replace him or partner him.

Schumacher's Ferrari team chief Jean Todt, who had given careful and serious consideration to signing Rossi, said he had been impressed with him at the wheel of a Formula One car. He said: "It was a pleasure giving him a chance to try out a Ferrari racing car," said Todt. All those who worked with him were struck by his ability to adapt to Formula One, by his talent and courtesy. Now we will follow with great affection his MotoGP challenge, hoping that he can get what he so richly deserves."

But while Ferrari put on a dignified face at the news, defending world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso was scathing in his criticism. The Renault driver, who is leaving for McLaren at the end of the year, has always maintained that the Italian motorcyclist was wasting Ferrari's time. He told reporters: "Good. We don't talk anything more about him. After four months, maybe this is the last question (I face about him)."