FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[max]

Jenson Who ?

Seriously, Re-sign Barrichello it's like re-sign Button : a bad idea !

Who are they going to sign if they don't sign their current drivers? I don't think Honda's problems are their drivers.

You means the ONLY problem ?
Maybe re-sign Villeneuve ...
No !!
but, they can going to sign a young driver, and keep one of this 'has been' drivers, don't they ?

[Gaz]

Jenson Who ?

Seriously, Re-sign Barrichello it's like re-sign Button : a bad idea !

Who are they going to sign if they don't sign their current drivers? I don't think Honda's problems are their drivers.

You means the ONLY problem ?
Maybe re-sign Villeneuve ...
No !!
but, they can going to sign a young driver, and keep one of this 'has been' drivers, don't they ?

a younger driver would present much more of a problem they wouldn't know how to setup a car and also may not be as quick as an experienced driver such as JB or RB

there both very good drivers some people forget that now even the likes of the top for (LH, FM, RK, KR) could do much better in that honda.

[scotty]

If Honda sack either driver they are fools, it's their fault for giving them crap cars the past two seasons. Look at the '06 season ffs, when Honda's car was capable of hanging with the front-midfield runners...

[bud]

Rubens will be the 2009 world champion so they will be stupid not to sign him

[max]

a younger driver would present much more of a problem they wouldn't know how to setup a car and also may not be as quick as an experienced driver such as JB or RB

there both very good drivers some people forget that now even the likes of the top for (LH, FM, RK, KR) could do much better in that honda.

it's true but look the result for this season, they are experienced but can't setup the car !
while Vettel for example ...

[Denthúl]

Rubens will be the 2009 world champion so they will be stupid not to sign him

I would love to see that. But I don't think Honda will make that kind of leap. They'll probably be where BMW Sauber were in the early part of this season - on the podium regularly.

If Barrichello does end up without a seat and ends up taking a drive with the Indy team he's supposedly going to test with, I'd probably start watching that series because I reckon he could take a championship over there. Wouldn't be the same as a Formula 1 World Championship title, but he deserves something big to his name.

[Denthúl]

Sorry to bump this, but here's an article just posted up on Autosport.com:

Barrichello determined to keep drive

By Jonathan Noble Saturday, October 18th 2008, 03:24 GMT

Rubens BarrichelloRubens Barrichello has told his Honda Racing chiefs that he will do everything he can to prove he is worth keeping on for 2009.

It is understood that the Brazilian has been informed that he is free to seek opportunities elsewhere, as Honda consider who to slot in alongside Jenson Button next year.

And although Barrichello has been checking out his options, being seen in talks with Scuderia Toro Rosso chief Gerhard Berger in his office in Shanghai on Friday, he says his priority is to remain where he is.

"I am completely focused on doing what I can, and I am doing all I can to stay on," Barrichello told autosport.com. "If it means losing weight for KERS, the six kilogrammes, then that is what I am going to be doing in December and January.

"If it means testing because of this or that, then that is what I am going to be doing. At least I will then know that I have done everything I could.

"I am only (thinking) for F1. I think with all my input I deserve a seat next year. After 16 years I am not tired, I feel I am up to it. I am quite strong physically. There is no stopping me."

With Honda Racing privately admitting that their hopes of luring Fernando Alonso away from Renault have faded, the team are likely to test young drivers - including Bruno Senna – in the winter period.

Nelson Piquet is the other main name who has been linked with the drive - with a Brazilian driver understood to be preferred because of the team's future tie-up with Brazilian oil company Petrobas - who are switching from Williams.

Barrichello has said that he fully respects any decision Honda make – even if it means evaluating someone who could replace him.

"If Honda Racing are happy to test other drivers then that is fine. If they think they are going to find something better by doing that, I have to respect that. I can't do much about it.

"I think what Honda need is someone with experience, with speed and lots of motivation – and that is what they have with me. Right now it is the point of looking at the car. What is bad at the team? It is the car. There is a good bunch of people and I just feel they are concentrating on the wrong stuff, but I have to respect it."

The uncertainty over Barrichello's future means that he could head to his home grand prix in Brazil later this month not knowing if it is his last race or not.

Speaking about that situation he said: "Well emotionally it is a sad feeling, because I felt like whenever the end came it would be nice to say bye, bye, bye. If that is not going to happen then there may be less suffering as well."

And he has rubbished wild rumours that he is poised to test a Penske IndyCar in the future – having ruled out a switch to oval racing already earlier this year.

"Someone invented it big time," he said. "I think I met Roger Penske once when I went to Milwaukee and I don't have his phone number – and I never thought of it.

"I have already said that my wife does not like the idea of me racing on the ovals. That is only thing that she has ever asked. There is nothing there, it was a clear invention."

I'm sorry, but Honda's management are being stupid here. Like Barrichello says, they've got a fast, experienced and motivated driver willing to sign a deal with them. They know that he's a good driver and that he would serve the team well. He's absolutely trounced Button this year (to the point where it has made Button look like he just doesn't care anymore). Even thinking about replacing him with Piquet or Senna is a little silly, since I don't think either of them would be an improvement over Rubens at the moment - they've still got a way to go before they've reached that kind of level.

But if Nick Fry's making the decision, I guess Brazil 2008 is likely to be his last race. With Honda, at least... :/

[texasmr2]

I agree because Ruben's still has the pace, stamina and motivation and should not be tossed aside so non-chalantly. I pray that he is kept on for next year when his talent and experience should truelly shine.

[KyrosV]

Honda should axe both drivers and start a fresh. there already the worst team, so it wont effect there stability. They need a fresh new talisment, and get rid of that earth crap. A nice Black Livery will geed the ball rolling. And sign up Bruno Senna alongside Marco Andretti!!

[Denthúl]

Honda should axe both drivers and start a fresh. there already the worst team, so it wont effect there stability. They need a fresh new talisment, and get rid of that earth crap. A nice Black Livery will geed the ball rolling. And sign up Bruno Senna alongside Marco Andretti!!

I see absolutely no sense in your comment. Besides, Rubens deserves a drive for at least another year. It's not like he hasn't proven himself.

[prozac26]

Rubens made a mistake by wanting to be a number one driver. He should of stay in Ferrari, but I do think he deserves to stay in F1, Honda should keep him, and go after Alonso, and then it would be very interesting.

[Denthúl]

Rubens made a mistake by wanting to be a number one driver. He should of stay in Ferrari, but I do think he deserves to stay in F1, Honda should keep him, and go after Alonso, and then it would be very interesting.

He didn't want to be a number one driver as such, he just didn't want to be stuck playing second fiddle to Michael and never allowed to fight for the championship. I would imagine that permanently being branded a number two driver would be frustrating and humiliating, and even insulting, considering the man's talents.

[prozac26]

Rubens made a mistake by wanting to be a number one driver. He should of stay in Ferrari, but I do think he deserves to stay in F1, Honda should keep him, and go after Alonso, and then it would be very interesting.

He didn't want to be a number one driver as such, he just didn't want to be stuck playing second fiddle to Michael and never allowed to fight for the championship. I would imagine that permanently being branded a number two driver would be frustrating and humiliating, and even insulting, considering the man's talents.

Yea, that's what I meant.

[McLaren Fan]

I'm sorry, but Honda's management are being stupid here. Like Barrichello says, they've got a fast, experienced and motivated driver willing to sign a deal with them. They know that he's a good driver and that he would serve the team well. He's absolutely trounced Button this year (to the point where it has made Button look like he just doesn't care anymore). Even thinking about replacing him with Piquet or Senna is a little silly, since I don't think either of them would be an improvement over Rubens at the moment - they've still got a way to go before they've reached that kind of level.

But if Nick Fry's making the decision, I guess Brazil 2008 is likely to be his last race. With Honda, at least... :/