Formula 1
Barrichello not fazed by Massa
Rubens Barrichello is not fazed by the presence of young compatriot Felipe Massa as test driver at Ferrari and thinks he deserves the position. Before Massa arrived at Ferrari, it had been long since rumoured that the team had an interest in him for ...
Published: Apr 3, 2003, 10:26 AM
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Rubens Barrichello is not fazed by the presence of young compatriot Felipe Massa as test driver at Ferrari and thinks he deserves the position. Before Massa arrived at Ferrari, it had been long since rumoured that the team had an interest in him for the future, possibly to replace Barrichello.
Whether or not that will happen is unknown but Barrichello professes to be unconcerned about the possibility and has always been a keen supporter of the younger man.
Rubens Barrichello.
Photo by Brousseau Photo.
"I think he (Massa) should be driving this year because he did a fantastic job last year," said Barrichello, according to Sporting Life. "But I think he has to learn whatever he can from this year or the years he is with Ferrari with Michael (Schumacher) and myself, because it is a chance to get experience and more mileage. I think by enjoying the time now he is going to have a bright future. If it is for him to drive for Ferrari in the future then I wish him well."
The Brazilian drivers in Formula One are on good terms and Barrichello recalled his debut in South Africa, at the age of 20, when Ayrton Senna took the trouble to stop and say hello: "He was walking through the paddock with a lot of people following him but he stopped in my pit area just to ask where I was. He was such an important person, but he was there to support me. By sticking together we live life with much more fun."
Barrichello's contract with Ferrari expires at the end of 2004 but he is not concerning himself with worrying about the future: "There is no reason to think that in 2004 things have finished and I will have to look for a new job," he said. "I am still quite young and even with 10 years of racing I don't think I am at my peak yet. I am a guy who has learned to live in the present so until the time comes you don't think about the future. It's too far away."
Rubens scored a second place finish in Malaysia and is currently on 8 points in the Driver's standings, ahead of Schumacher, and is looking forward to his home race in Brazil this weekend. He has failed to finish the Interlagos race for the past eight years and hopes to make amends this time.
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