Barrichello dreaming of title

Eurosport - Fri, 05 Jun 11:52:00 2009

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello says he can still become Formula One champion this season despite Brawn GP team-mate Jenson Button winning five of six races so far.

FORMULA 1 2009 BrawnGP Barrichello - 0

Barely four months ago, after his Honda team announced they were leaving, Barrichello feared he was out of a job. Now he is second overall and just 16 points behind the championship-leading Briton.

Brawn, who emerged from the ashes of Honda, are running away with the most topsy-turvy of seasons and Barrichello would like to add another twist to the tale before it is over.

"I should have won a race by now. But after so many years, the shoulds and the ifs don't exist any more," the 37-year-old, whose last win came with Ferrari in 2004, said at the Turkish Grand Prix.

"I dream of being champion. People might say he's crazy because his team mate won five races already.

"I'm lucky that the championship is not decided by the wins, because otherwise I would definitely say he (Button) had won the championship already.

"It's a healthy fight and I expect... to get better all the time. That's the way it has been. In the first four races, the balance of the car favoured Jenson a bit. And then with the new package I think I've come back a bit."

The Brazilian added: "There are still plenty of races, 11 to go. Four months ago I was dreaming at home that I could have a car. Now I do. And now I am dreaming of becoming world champion."

Barrichello has three times anchored Button in a Brawn one-two and has shown he still has the speed of old by being regularly quicker than the Briton in the second phase of qualifying (Q2).

He has failed to hit home when it mattered however, losing pole to Button in Monaco when the Briton pulled out a breathtakingly quick final lap and during the race in Spain when he failed to make a strategy that should have favoured him work to his advantage.

"If you take qualifying as an example, I am five times behind and one ahead in Q3, but if you look at Q2 then I am five times in front and one behind," he said.

"In the first four races he opened up a gap with a balance he had, and he was very happy. Now it seems I am little happier with the car.

"The momentum is still going his way, but I am hopeful and prepared that it will stop here.

"There is a good vibe, a good momentum for him, and he is doing well," added the oldest driver on the starting grid who is now in his 17th season.

"But I'm young, and I'm still improving."

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Reuters

Comment 6 - 25 of 25

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  1. GOOD LUCK to Rubens for the success he­ requires

    However very sadly he cannot match the same­ skills as silky smooth Button with same equipment
    to­ earn the maximum success from the existing tyre­ situation ~~ close ,, but not quite there
    SO SADLY ­ dear Rubens gradually falls back little by little,,,­ fractions at a time

    From pitcrew66, on Sat 6 Jun 7:36AM

  2. at Spanish race Rubens had chance to win
    In mid race he­ was told to press ahead ,, to advance ,, speed up to­ open a gap
    However he steadily fell back each lap ,,­ instead of advancing
    Button simply uses the tyre­ situation better with smooth economical handling,,, ­ to be more successfull

    From pitcrew66, on Sat 6 Jun 7:09AM

  3. Post #23: After seeing what I see these days on this­ forum, those guidlines don't work or are meant for­ another forum not this one. Sometimes it really stinks.

    From emanyaleni, on Sat 6 Jun 6:18AM

  4. It's very unfortunate that when drivers work­ together, sit down and have a cup of coffee together (I­ have seen many drivers doing this), the fans are busy­ bickering on this forum. For what?

    From emanyaleni, on Sat 6 Jun 6:12AM

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    From Alien, on Sat 6 Jun 6:01AM

  6. hamster aint good enough to clean rubens car.

    From Burt, on Sat 6 Jun 12:50AM

  7. Hey me main man Potter and my @#$% Marnio..

    You girls­­ going to hook me up at da blue oyster bar tonight. Me­­ need some dadd'in lov'in you feel me

    I have­­ the KY Jelly babies

    Me love you long time

    From Briatore, on Sat 6 Jun 12:01AM

  8. i would love rubens to win the title in his twilight­ years atlast!!!!!
    but with button his team mate it`s­ gonna be an uphill struggle.
    go on jenson lad!!! win it­ for ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!!

    From geoffrey, on Fri 5 Jun 10:21PM

  9. Surely this goes without saying.

    From Only Human After All, on Fri 5 Jun 7:30PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hamster aint good enough to clean rubens car.

    From Burt, on Fri 5 Jun 5:38PM

  11. Hello Dear Rubens.the Champion will comes to­ you.Don't give up.You can do it.God will blessing­ you.Go BrawnGP Go!!!!!!Don't dream.do your best.

    From couch p, on Fri 5 Jun 4:34PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Rubens states that he is young - he is not, at 37 he­ is coming to the end of his career. He also states that­ he is still improving - he is too late, he should have­ been at his best for the last 5 years. Time to retire­ Rubens.

    From Biggles, on Fri 5 Jun 4:32PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Keep on dreaming Rubens.

    From Biggles, on Fri 5 Jun 4:27PM

  14. Ruebens is good but just not good enough.
    everyone has­ to face the fact that Jenson has made better use of a­ good car and you therefore have to admit that he is the­ better driver.

    From william c, on Fri 5 Jun 4:26PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    He can do it. He is as good or better than Button. Too­ bad for the team orders that DO apply, regardless of­ what is said to the press.

    From Tempoe, on Fri 5 Jun 3:48PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    he has allways been good at coming second

    From jack, on Fri 5 Jun 3:17PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    rubens wipes the floor with hamster.

    From Burt, on Fri 5 Jun 3:14PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Rubens is lucky he even has a drive all he will ever do­ is dream about being world champion it will never­ happen because he cannot out drive or out think Button,­ I am sure he will win a race on his own and probably be­ gifted another by Button, but Rubens has never been a­ championship contender before and he certainly is not­ one now ! :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Fri 5 Jun 2:51PM

  19. I quote "I'm lucky that the championship is­ not decided by the wins, because otherwise I would­ definitely say he (Button) had won the championship­ already."

    And you would still trust the likes of­ Ernie and Maxy to make F1 better ? Look where it would­ be now. Even more boring.

    From hempy, on Fri 5 Jun 1:48PM

  20. I would love to see Rubens get his WDC and then retire­ on top. It would be one of the best stories in the­ history of sport.

    From TeamJuanF1, on Fri 5 Jun 1:10PM
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