I don't think that Ross Brawn started the season favouring any particular driver, but I think we can see from his time at Ferrari that Ross is not afraid to back one driver when it looks like there is a chance in the Championship. They seem to be claiming that it was bad luck that Rubens didn't win this race rather than manipulation by Ross. I'll accept that for this race. I don't think there has been any bias against Rubens in the previous races, but if I were in Rubens' position I too would say what he is saying. It serves 2 purposes for him: 1) It lets the team know that he is serious and he is not willing to be his teammates lapdog. 2) It plants doubt in the minds of people so they wonder if Jenson is actually the faster driver. These thoughts do Rubens no harm. I think the best way to avoid becoming a 'victim' of team orders is to beat your team-mate. This has to be done in the garage as well as on the track. Schumacher worked hard with the whole team so that the whole garage was behind him. This made it difficult for any team-mates. If you spoke to any Ferrari mechanic during the Schumacher era they absolutely adored him, even if many other Italians found him a bit too German/arrogant/unemotional. Basically Rubens knows what Ross is like. The chances are that Ross will start to favour Jenson and in fact he may have already started to. Rubens has to either stop complaining or start beating Jenson and making Ross's decision making more difficult.
Doesnt surprise me. Rubens has his races where he's untouchable. Ross knows this, rubens knows this, everyone does. Ross knows Jenson is more consistent in his performance hence the title favourite. Ross also knows others are catching up quick(er?) in car development so he has to make sure the driver with the most points gets as far ahead as possible. Jenson's dominance in the first quarter of the season obviously made him well ahead in the points. However, since Rubens was silly quick yesterday and Jenson just wasn't, brawn switched Rubens strategy to the slower one (despite telling the press otherwise). Rubens knows this, ross, his engineers, anyone with half a brain does. But anyone would have done the same in Ross' position. I don't blame him. Just bothers me that Barrichello is all of a sudden painted as a loser not worthy of anything by the press.
Rubens knows it? So what happened to '"I'm sure everything is OK," he (Rubens) said, "but if I get the slightest sniff of the fact that they have favoured Jenson, I will hang up my helmet tomorrow."'
Button is Brawn's driver of choice. Ruebens knows it. He's just going to let everyone know what's what.
After five races in, it's a little too early in the season for Brawn to pull this kind of stunt. Barrichello had the race and should have been allowed to win, he has every reason to be upset and voice his well founded concerns. If Jenson becomes injured during a shunt and misses a number of races during his recovery, Brawn are going to wish they had given Rubino every opportunity to fend off their most likely threat this season, Vettel. If Brawn has a weakness this year, it's myopia.
Just another unappreciative athlete in my opinion. Shut your mouth, drive the car, and collect your millions. The name on the car is Brawn, not Barichello. It's just like any other job. You do what the boss tells you to do. And until you're the boss, you listen. Do you have to agree with the decision? No. Will things always be fair? No. But if it weren't for Brawn, where would good ol' Ruben's be today? I'll tell you where, at the back of the pack just like last year. Quit the whining. Rant off...
Let him quit, where will he go? This is the biggest joke of the season. He should be really lucky he is on the podium after many years as well as the fact that last year was almost his last one with Honda dropping out. So please RB appreciate what you have rather than trying to be a tough guy.
On RB side of the discussion, he did get screwed in Spain and it did bring back MS memories of how he was treated in some races with Ferrari. I felt bad for him as I have at times in the past. If he had no pride he would not be a race car driver. On the other hand, I thought he was washed up after last year. What a difference a car makes.
History will decide; if Button clinches the WDC by one point (except over RB) everyone will say Brawn is a genius. If Button blows everyone out of the water then it was a petty move. IMO Brawn is in it as a business, not as a charity. Make the tough decisions. RB is a big boy now. He understands. Things could be worse....
I'm betting that Barrichello's "unluck" will continue. Stupid posturing on his part. He has always been and will always be the other driver. Barrichello should be thankful for the fortune he's made in F1 and should just shut up.
RB didn't seem too pleased after the race and during the press conferance. He should have won the race
Yep, it reminds me of a Hollywood actor, who's made millions in the movies, but never cast as the leading man. Its just your lot in life. Be happy with what you have....its not too shabby
Don't think he should quit, he's still quick..... just not as quick as Button. Nothing wrong in that.
+1, but if we look at it from Rubens side he is battling Button for the WDC. A win yesterday would make his gap 10.5 pts instead of 14.5, well in range of Button. That said, Brawn is hedging his bets and doing what is necessary to keep Button in front of the competition. Rubens worked for him before...he knows Ross' tactics.
Nice post. He wouldnt be driving if not for Brawn. Plenty other young talent out there. RB has it good. Life in Brazil and Monaco. His ego needs to let it go and make the best of his probable last year in the sport.
You can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time... Shut up Rubino, you have a great car, a great boss, let your driving do the talking!! hell be thankfull you can do that.
I think you guys are blaming Rubens for no reason. He had a great start, and all of a sudden, he discovers that Jenson is on a 2 stopper. SO what does he do? He pushed hard, but the last set of tyres didn't allow him to eventually challenge Jenson for the win. Yes, Rubens has been a complainer in the past. Yes, he's lucky that he's driving this year, but, IMHO, he was robbed on Sunday.