I was disappointed to see Barrichello leave Indycar, particularly in light of Williams’ 2012 season. I can’t help but feel that he would have somehow achieved more – much more – than Senna and Maldonado. Maldonado proved that the car was capable of qualifying in the top three (under the right conditions), and so I think that a driver of Barrichello’s ability and maturity could have equalled that with ease. He certainly would have been a better, safer pair of hands than Bruno Senna. I wonder if Senna’s sponsors regret backing the wrong Brazilian?
I suppose that, at Barrichello’s age – 40 – racing in a domestic series like Stock Car Brasil has its perks. He’d be doing a shorter, less-intense season, which would give him more time to spend at home with his family. And the lack of jet-setting to opposite ends of the earth and back again no doubt takes its toll on the body.
