Barrichello still aiming for championship

Rubens Barrichello believes he can still be the Formula One world champion and it's dreams like that which keep him motivated. Many rumours had it that Barrichello would be ousted from Ferrari at the end of this year when his contract is up but the ...

Rubens Barrichello believes he can still be the Formula One world champion and it's dreams like that which keep him motivated. Many rumours had it that Barrichello would be ousted from Ferrari at the end of this year when his contract is up but the Maranello squad recently renewed the contract for another two years. While some think he is mad to continue with a team that revolves around current champion Michael Schumacher, Barrichello said he doesn't think about waiting for Schumacher to retire.

Press conference announcing 2003-2004 contract with Barrichello: Rubens Barrichello.

Photo by Ferrari Media Center.

"I think I can still be world champion," he said. "Even if others think there is no way, I have this thing inside myself. You have to have dreams in life. When you stop having dreams there is no motivation to have a life in full. I still wake up every day thinking it is going to be a winning day whether I am racing, testing or with my family. I don't think of Michael stopping in 2004 and me leading the team. If you think that way you are always in trouble. If I had thought at the beginning of the year that I had to show them I was capable and then they are going to re-sign me I would never have done it."

Schumacher seems to be on course for his fifth title but Barrichello never lets the success of his team-mate deter his own ambitions. Since being behind the wheel of the Ferrari F2002 the Brazilian has held pole position in qualifying right up until the last minute in the last two Grands Prix -- only to have Schumacher steal it away in the final moments. Barrichello remains calm, focusing on his job and not thinking about the future.

"I am just concentrating on doing the best I can day to day," he explained. "When we get to 2004 it is going to be so different so I don't think about that. I don't know if Michael will stop. It's different for someone who thinks his physical condition is not as good as before so I might as well stop. Physically, he never goes down so it will be difficult for him to say one day I will stop."