Wednesday, 29, June, 2005, 17:14 Brazilian Formula 1 veteran Rubens Barrichello has revealed he intends to stay with Ferrari until the end of the 2006 season, despite recent rumours to the contrary. The nine-times grand prix winner insists he has a firm contract with the Italian outfit, but admitted that a tough start to the 2005 season has seen cracks grow in the normally close-knit relationships that the team claims to have. Im staying with Ferrari at least until the end of next season, he said in an interview with Brazilian TV channel SporTV. My contract doesnt even have a buyout clause. The only way for me and the team to part ways would be through a common agreement between both parties. Barrichello has regularly been forced to play second fiddle to seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher since joining the German at Ferrari five years ago, but has always been a loyal team player. He has become more outspoken this year, however, as Ferrari has struggled to match its rivals feeding speculation that fellow countryman Felipe Massa might take his place as early as 2006. Massa, who drives for the Ferrari-powered Sauber outfit and is managed by Ferrari boss Jean Todts son, Nicolas, has been linked to the Italian team for a couple of years. Barrichello questioned Ferraris decision to lower his engine revs midway through the US Grand Prix after a fierce early fight with Schumacher, and this week added more fuel to the fire to suggest he is fighting his team as well as the drivers on the track. Between team-mates you always have to be prudent," he told autosport.com this week. "But you know, it's just a little Brazilian against a very big world, so it's a very big fight. "I'm driving the car well, but I'm having to put up with a lot of things I dont like. But those are things that are slowly getting into place and I think we're still going to have the possibility to win races without any bitter taste. Barrichello has also admitted that he isnt that close to Schumacher, despite having shared a garage and numerous victory podiums with the German over the course of the last five and a half years. The pairs on-track tussles have become more fierce this year, with the pair nearly clashing in the Monaco and US Grands Prix. We have never been friends-friends, Barrichello said. We went out with our families several times, that sort of stuff, but on the track its each one for himself and God for all."
Rubens "on the track its each one for himself and God for all." All these years at Ferrari! We all know about Fire and Ice! Is this the ice?
How much money does a person have to make before they grow a sack and stop taking it? What is he worth... like $50M US by now? more? Maybe it's time to step up, and not be remembered for being Schumi's loyal terrier. Cause Senna, RB's idol, surely would have been someone's lap dog all this time... Besides which, $50M US is like eleventy billion Reais, and he has made it clear he intends to retire in Brazil.
Rubens still has his #1 goal unachieved: Winning Interlagos I bet he'll do anything to get that one this year.
This is from Massa's web site "Nicolas Todt is in charge of my management since the end of the 2003 season. I met him at the beginning of the year and we made very good contact. I asked him to be my manager from now on and I have to say our relationship is excellent." www.felipemassa.com Nicolas Todt ==> Jean Todt Jr. ==> Napoleon II (expect Massa and Todt Jr. at Ferrari in a few years)
Actually I knew that part (thanks to Imperial). But I never heard before that Ferrari lowered the revs on Rubens car effectively stealing him the victory over Schumacher. No wonder the man is piss_ed.
I wish I could find the web page but I read that Ross Brawn came on the team radio and told both cars "I want both cars to finish today" The response from both cars was SOP - "Shifting settings to lower revs" So I think he told both cars to limit revs. I will try to find the web page.
I think I remember hearing some talk about this during the race on Speed TV (not sure though). In that case it would make sense and obviously not be targeting Rubens. If that is the case indeed, then it is all the more puzzling Rubens brought that up towards the press. Sounds like he is running his own little agenda there.
He looks frustrated. His body language after the race (USGP) was not too great either. In all fairness, he has one of the toughest jobs in F1 today. He should worry about the 2005 job at hand and not the 2006 dreams.
The fact that they sent in Big Grizzly Brawn to stand in between the two drivers was indication enough. Will be interesting to follow Rubens in France.
I think he took control of the entire situation at the USGP. Jean Todt was cross after being accused worngly and just wanted out of that mess. Ross stepped up, ran the race, went up to collect the trophy, said thank you very much for 18 points, no comments, and goodbye! I respect him.
It is a tough job being second fiddle to the great MS. I have always respected the guy. I think he's under rated.
