Luca Badoer clocked up more than 130,000 kilometres as Ferrari's test driver © Sutton Images Enlarge Related Links News:

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Ferrari has confirmed that veteran driver Luca Badoer will leave Ferrari after a decade at test driver for the famous Italian marque.

After leaving Minardi in 1999, Badoer accumulated more than 130,000 kilometres at the Mugello and Fiorano test circuits and is credited with making a vital contribution to Ferrari's first Formula One drivers' championship win for 21 years in 2000.

The Italian got his big break with Ferrari when he replaced the injured Felipe Massa in the Brazilian's race cockpit in the middle of 2009, becoming the oldest driver on the F1 grid. But he was heavily criticised for his lack of pace and made way for another Italian, Giancarlo Fisichella. His last outing in a Ferrari F1 car was at the Bologna Motor Show.

"The only regret is that I was only able to do two races," said Badoer. "The team had confidence in me at that time and that is something I will always be grateful for.

"The thing I will miss most is driving the Formula One car. I have never been one for the bright lights, as the one and only thing I wanted centred on my job of taking a car to its limits, working out where there was room for improvement."

Badoer also raced 58 other times for minor Italian teams throughout the 90s.