Formula 1

Irvine thinks Barrichello good for Ferrari

Jaguar's Eddie Irvine thinks Ferrari renewing Rubens Barrichello's contract is good for stability in the team but is surprised the Brazilian agreed to a two year deal. Formerly a Ferrari driver himself, Irvine said perhaps Barrichello had no other ...

Published: May 12, 2002, 5:08 PM

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Jaguar's Eddie Irvine thinks Ferrari renewing Rubens Barrichello's contract is good for stability in the team but is surprised the Brazilian agreed to a two year deal. Formerly a Ferrari driver himself, Irvine said perhaps Barrichello had no other choice but being team-mate to Michael Schumacher is not an easy job.

Eddie Irvine.

Photo by Jonathan Munro.

"The decision to keep Rubens Barrichello at Ferrari is a good one because it keeps stability in the team," Irvine said. "But I am surprised he agreed to a two-year deal. Then again, maybe he didn't have any other options. I don't see any satisfaction in getting your arse whipped by Michael at every race because I had enough of that during my time with the team."

Irvine believes Schumacher will break his jinx of never having won the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, although Barrichello could still give the German a hard time.

"Austria's A1 Ring is a circuit Michael has never won on before but that will probably have changed by tomorrow," the Irishman remarked. "Although Rubens could give him a run for his money. This is a circuit Rubens does well on and it's also a track that can spring a few surprises because of the changing weather conditions. "

In free practice yesterday Jaguar seemed to have improved slightly from the dismal form so far displayed this year. Irvine was in the top ten fastest times for a while, as was team-mate Pedro de la Rosa and even though both finished outside the top ten it was an encouraging day. Irvine is looking forward to tomorrow's race, the unpredictability of the A1-Ring being a challenge he will enjoy.

"The A1 Ring is certainly one of the fastest tracks on the race calendar and I like it for the overtaking opportunities that exist," he said. "The high number of incidents, particularly at the first corner, also makes this race exciting for the spectators. Tyre choice and the chance of rain makes this race one of the most unpredictable in the calendar and I'm looking forward to the challenge. But staying clear of trouble and finishing as high as possible is the order of the day for me."

Fast and challenging is all very well but Irvine would much prefer sunshine to mountains: "I have to say the circuit here is good but having a race halfway up a mountain in the middle of Austria is not my idea of Formula One," he remarked. "All Grand Prix should be sexy and held in sunny climates."

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