Giacomo Agostini holds the record for the most motorcycle world championships, with 15 titles, and has long been an icon on two wheels. But he could have also made his mark in Formula 1.
Ferrari had brought John Surtees from motorcycle racing to F1, leading him to a world title in 1964. To this day, the Brit remains the only person to have been world champion in both disciplines.
Enzo Ferrari also tried to lure Agostini into car racing – giving him the chance to test a Ferrari Dino 206 Berlinetta in Modena. In fact, a move to F1 was seriously considered.
However, Agostini chose to remain in MotoGP, giving a painful “no” to Enzo Ferrari – as he recently told FanPage.it:
– After realizing that my passion had started with two wheels and still belonged there, I told myself: «It’s right that I stay here». And so I said no to Ferrari. I did it with great regret, and it was a very painful decision: I didn’t sleep for three days before telling him I had decided to stay with motorcycles.
And Enzo Ferrari’s reaction to the rejection? ‘Ferrari, here and there, was hurt, but eventually accepted my decision’, Agostini recalled.
