Formula 1
Barrichello working overtime to keep Williams seat
Global Motorsport Media
Edited: Nov 21, 2011, 4:22 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Rubens Barrichello has revealed he is working overtime to extend his Formula One career into a twentieth consecutive season in 2012.
Williams is considering replacing the 39-year-old veteran after his home race at Interlagos on Sunday, with a well-heeled quartet featuring Kimi Raikkonen, Adrian Sutil, Valtteri Bottas and Giedo van der Garde reportedly all in the running.
So, ahead of what could be his 322nd and last race this weekend, Barrichello has told O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper that he has been working hard behind the scenes to compete with the sponsor money on offer.
Rubens Barrichello, Williams F1 Team
Photo by: xpb.cc
"My desire to continue in Formula One is such that in the last two months I visited more companies than I did in 1990, when I was looking for sponsors to race overseas," he said.
"We are offering an unique form of participation (for a sponsor); not just brand exposure but something personalised -- 'tailor-made' as the English would say," added Barrichello.
He acknowledged that it is tempting for his bosses Sir Frank Williams and Adam Parr to sign someone else because they can offer more money.
"But they know that they can count on me for the speed and for the experience," insisted the former Ferrari driver.
Barrichello said he is not new to uncertainty, revealing that early in 2009 he risked losing his Brawn seat because the former Honda team was struggling for money.
"Ross Brawn said that I needed money to finish the championship. So if after the fourth race someone else came with sponsorship then I would have to give up," he said.
Two years on, he is now relying on more than just his own efforts to realise his dream of extending his already longest-ever F1 career even further.
I have to be prepared for anything. I have to stop one day
Rubens Barrichello
"I have a tattoo on my arm with the initials of my children, F for Fernando and E for Eduardo," Barrichello explained.
"The guy who gave it to me suggested putting an accent on so it becomes faith (fe), which I loved because I am a man of faith," he said.
But what if, despite his faith, Barrichello is left without a seat for 2012?
"Then I am a happy person and, yes, I have to be prepared for anything. I have to stop one day. And if this is god's will then I will follow that path and perhaps it will be even better for my children as they grow up," he answered.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Wickens shines again on return to Marussia Virgin Racing
Next article Bottas eyes Friday role at Williams for 2012
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac’s F1 brakes are still a problem: ‘I had to lift and coast on lap two’
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Cadillac’s F1 brakes are still a problem: ‘I had to lift and coast on lap two’
Valtteri Bottas completes three-day jungle ride to Singapore GP: "Your mind starts to play games at night"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Valtteri Bottas completes three-day jungle ride to Singapore GP: "Your mind starts to play games at night"
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
Formula 1
Canadian GP
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
More from
Ferrari
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
Fred Vasseur "not sure" if Red Bull is currently F1's best team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Fred Vasseur "not sure" if Red Bull is currently F1's best team
Latest news
Max Verstappen on GTWC Europe debut: “We’re here to win”
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 8 h
Max Verstappen on GTWC Europe debut: “We’re here to win”
How to watch NASCAR at Phoenix II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
8 h
How to watch NASCAR at Phoenix II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
Ryan Ellis signs multi-year NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Alpha Prime Racing
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
9 h
Ryan Ellis signs multi-year NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Alpha Prime Racing
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
15 h
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe