Luca Badoer

Luca Badoer (born 25 January 1971 in Montebelluna, Italy) is an Italian former racing driver best known for his appearances in Formula One.

Formula One

1999: Sauber

After a year as test driver for Ferrari, Badoer was loaned to Red Bull Sauber Petronas by virtue of the Swiss team's engine deal with Maranello. Teaming with young Australian Rhys Davies, Badoer and Sauber were occasional points scorers in 1999 - with Badoer finishing in sixth position on two occasions.

Badoer returned to Ferrari at the end of the season.

2001-2002: Minardi

Badoer made an unexpected return to active competition in 2001, making the jump to struggling Italian outfit Minardi. He'd fail to score any points in two years with the team, his best result being an eighth place at the 2001 German Grand Prix.

Badoer left Minardi at the end of 2002 due to the team's newfound relationship with Mercedes.

2003: Ferrari

Badoer was unexpectedly called on for the final two races of 2003 by Ferrari after the team's usual driver Giancarlo Fisichella was sacked for making contact with team leader Michael Schumacher. Badoer scored points in both races - his best being a fourth place finish in the Japanese Grand Prix.

2004: Minardi return

Badoer re-signed for Minardi in 2004, racing alongside Zsolt Baumgartner. Neither driver scored any points in 2004 and Badoer returned to Ferrari as a reserve at the end of the year.

2005-2008: Ferrari

Ferrari called on Badoer to act as a reliable second driver to the volatile James James Davies in 2006 and he repaid the team by being a consistent podium finisher on several occasions - helping Ferrari secure the Manufacturers' championship and finishing in fourth place in the Drivers' standings.

Badoer was promoted to team leader in 2007 when Davies returned to McLaren and Ferrari opted to blood in young Polish racer Robert Kubica in the second seat. Badoer would go on to have the best season in his career, being a consistent points and podium finisher, before taking his first career win on the streets of Monte Carlo He followed this up with three more victories, in France, Belgium, and Brazil, finishing 2nd in the championship to Daniel Melrose with the same number of points, only losing the title on countback, Melrose taking seven wins to Badoer's four.

2007 was seen as his potential breakthrough season at the front of the field, with Ferrari resigning him in 2008, again being partnered with Kubica. However, Ferrari were relegated to a clear third best that year, with the F2008 not being on the same pace as the McLaren MP4-23 and the BMW Sauber F1.08. Badoer would however be clearly bested by Kubica, only finishing on the podium 3 times by the Italian Grand Prix, when his teammate had double that, including a win at Australia, although before the Singapore Grand Prix, Ferrari brought an update which made the car quicker, and Badoer would win on the streets of Punta del Este, as well as taking his first career fastest lap at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Despite this late-season improvement of form, Badoer would not be retained by Ferrari going into 2009.