Brazilian veteran promising to 'leave his mark' on the sport in more ways than one.
by Russell Atkins
TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL: CLICK HERE
Ahead of the season in which he is set to become the most experienced driver in Formula 1 history, Rubens Barrichello has insisted he has no intention of walking away from the sport he loves so much, and predicts a return to podium-challenging form for Honda in 2008.
The Brazilian has begun a staggering 249 races in the top flight - second only to Riccardo Patrese on 256 - and he will overtake the Italian's record at Magny-Cours in June. He knows it will be a special moment when it arrives, but in the meantime he is more firmly focussed on the development of Honda's new RA108, the car on which the Japanese manufacturer has pinned its hopes as the antidote to a painful 2007 campaign - the first in Barrichello's 15-year career in grand prix circles during which he has failed to score so much as a single point.
"I'm very proud," the 35-year-old admitted, speaking exclusively to Crash.net Radio on the subject of his impending record-breaking achievement, "though it's something I've never thought about before. I remember Patrese racing for such a long time, and I'm pleased to have been able to race against him when I came into Formula 1. He's such a lovely guy as well.
"I'm very much looking forward to [the 2008 season]. It's like any other year where you're trying to see your car on the podium or winning races, but at the moment it's all just talking. [2007] was tough, but it appeared tougher on the outside - in terms of what newspapers or magazines would write - than it in reality was.
"Deep inside I feel the team has had a great restructure. The car is 100 per cent different, we are well-based with [new team principal] Ross Brawn, we have good guys in the wind tunnel and I think the bad phases of last year taught us a lot.
"[Brawn] has brought what the team needed, which is a leader trying to balance the harmony of the team and make sure everyone is in the right place. I think the team is much more well-organised with him here, and slowly now I think we're going to work on some other areas where the team can improve - some of them are quite good already, but others need taking on and looking after.
"I'm very pleased that Alex [Wurz - test-driver] has joined the team too. We have two drivers who have done a lot of miles in me and him, and with Jenson's [Button - team-mate] experience as well it's going to be all about taking things to the next level. I think we're going forwards, and I can see good times coming."
That must be a welcome relief after last season, and a clear indication that Barrichello has no thoughts of hanging up his helmet just yet. He may have triumphed on nine occasions, set 13 pole positions, achieved 16 fastest laps and stood up on the rostrum some 61 times already over the course of his F1 career, but the desire to add to that impressive tally shows few signs of abating with age.
"I will leave my mark in Formula 1," he asserted, alluding to his soon-to-be record number of starts but also evidently thinking along the lines of bringing success to Honda. "Hopefully I will leave some other marks too, but this is one of them. [I will carry on] as long as I enjoy it, and right now I'm enjoying it too much [to stop].
"I think the personal objective is to improve - a lot - on last year, and I think we have to really aim high. The energy [within the team] is all focussed on making it to the podium, and I think we can do that."
To read the interview in full, click here
TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL: CLICK HERE
