How Rubens Barrichello describes his time in Formula 1 in retrospect and how he sees himself in comparison to his Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher
Rubens Barrichello took part in Formula One race weekends 323 times between 1993 and 2011, but he didn’t always feel comfortable in the Grand Prix paddock, as he explains in the Formula One podcast “Beyond The Grid”.
He had to learn the hard way what it means to be a Formula 1 driver. “I happen to be an emotional person. But there were times when I had to become a refrigerator. And I got better and better at it,” says Barrichello.
One example is the dramatic events of the 1994 season, with Ayrton Senna’s fatal accident at Imola. He himself had come to terms with the loss of his prominent compatriot two weeks later in Monaco. “But then the whole world forced me to deal with it again. Because on the starting grid, we stood together and said how much we missed Ayrton and Ratzenberger.”
Nevertheless, he is “grateful for everything that happened” in his Formula One career, emphasizes Barrichello. He adds: “Was [Michael] Schumacher better than me? I think so. But was it 51:49 or 70:30? I don’t know. And we’ll never know.”
He never questioned certain things anyway, Barrichello continues. His reasoning: “If you always ask why, you’ll never get ahead. I think I did my job well and got better and better at it.”
Best Barrichello? Drove for Williams!
And it wasn’t with Ferrari that he was at the peak of his creative powers in Formula 1, but shortly before the end of his career with Williams, says Barrichello. “That was my peak. But unfortunately Williams was…”
“There were too many co-owners in the team, Williams needed money. I still had a contract for 2012 and had invested a lot in the car. But suddenly I was out, even though I was driving better than ever.”
Barrichello received the crucial information by phone: Team principal Frank Williams called him in January 2012 to inform him of his exclusion. A few days later, the team presented Barrichello’s Brazilian compatriot Bruno Senna as his successor – and his multi-million sponsor’s package.
Always up for a comeback
Barrichello reacted quickly: two weeks after Senna’s signing, he completed his first test in the IndyCar in the USA, then contested the 2012 season in the US championship and finished twelfth overall. He then switched to the Brazilian Stock Car series, winning the title in 2014 and repeating the feat in 2022. Barrichello is still competing in the touring car championship in 2024.
So retirement is not an option for the 52-year-old. On the contrary, he would be open to a comeback on a bigger stage. “If Fernando [Alonso] came to me now and asked if I wanted to be his teammate at Aston Martin, I would still be ready,” says Barrichello. “And I would love it!”