As an analogy, we may...The driver debates: Rubens Barrichello
Rubens Barrichello (left) will set a new mark for the most Grand Prix starts this weekend, beating the 256-race record of Riccardo Patrese (right) which has stood for 15 years.
How do you rate the Brazilian’s career?
In 1993 he was the rookie who dazzled in the drizzle at Donington Park. He spent the years immediately following that struggling to meet the expectations of his countrymen following the death of his friend and hero Ayrton Senna.
His impressive drives for the fledgling Stewart outfit reminded the top team bosses of his talent and he was vindicated when he scored his maiden win in his first season at Ferrari.
Tougher times followed. On several occasions he was vilified for deferring to Michael Schumacher, throwing a race win away at Austria in 2002. Only recently Barrichello has revealed the extent of his subordinate role at the team, and how he fixed his mind on leaving after being told not to race Schumacher fir victory at Indianapolis in 2005 - even though Schumacher had no realistic hope of winning the title that year.
Since arriving at Honda he has been largely in Jenson Button’s shadow. But any man who can forge a 16-year career at the peak of motor sport - and still wants to continue on to 300 starts - deserves respect. And on his greatest days even Schumacher himself found Barrichello a hard man to beat (see video of some of his career highlights here).
How do you rate Rubens Barrichello?
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His overtake-everyone-twice win at Silverstone in 2003 is one of the finest I’ve ever seen, particularly given the fact that Schumacher’s performance in the sister car did not suggest that the Ferrari had a huge advantage that day. Alonso, Raikkonen, and Hamilton have had impressive wins, but none of theirs (so far) compare to Rubens’ finest. It’s a shame that Rubens either wasn’t able/allowed (take your pick) to be more consistent than he was.
Barrichello suffered a lot here in Brazil, as I’ve commented a couple of times…
If I am to make an impartial evaluation, I have to say he is the best second driver ever seen in Formula 1 and, coincidence or not, he partened the best first driver ever during his most successful years, and that’s why the share the title of most one-twos in Formula 1 History…
I think that never before a driver as fast and as good in car development as Barrichello accepted a clear number two role as he did, and I think he did so because he felt his career was already too long (seven seasons) in midfield teams, that he desperataly needed a top drive, not matter how costly it would come…
I always saw Rubens as a very competent pilot, he always did his job well.
The problem is that to win races and championships you have to be better than competent, you have to be exceptional, fantastic, like Fangio, Jim Clark, Niki Lauda, Piquet, Prost, Senna and Schumacher.
Agreed Spodo, silverstone 2003 was his most impressive performance, a delight especially as he’s a popular driver anyway. That day he stood head & shoulders above the rest.
I always sympathised with him for being the great Brazilian hope after Ayrton, impossible.
His 61 podium finishes are a testimony of his driving prowess, but like all Brazilian drivers, he lets his heart rule his head when circumstances are tense.
I wouldnt mind being Number 2 to Michael…what an honour…. he could have been the top driver in another team, at that time…friendly person, with a big heart!