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By McLaren Fan
#85381
From Planet F1:

Barrichello not ready to quit F1
Friday 19th December 2008

Rubens Barrichello has revealed that offers have been flooding in to sign up for other championships, but the Brazilian feels he still has a lot to offer Formula One.

Barrichello faced an uncertain future after Honda failed to offer him a new contract at the end of the season, however that became immaterial when the Japanese manufacturer decided to call their F1 operations to a halt.

The 36-year-old admits Honda's announcement came as a complete surprise to him.

"It was shocking. I couldn't believe it," he told Autosport.

"It was more shocking than if they had called me to tell me they had chosen a driver different to myself or Bruno (Senna) someone even younger!

"You could never have imagined that Honda would have these problems. I never heard anything about money so maybe that was a problem as well. Perhaps the budget was too much, with too many things to do. It was very strange."

The Brazilian believes it would be a "shame" if some with his experience doesn't get an opportunity to show his real value.

"I've talked to several people. It was funny that my telephone started to ring about different things as soon as Honda said they were pulling out," he said.

"I had calls from the WTCC to the 24 Hours of Daytona it really started to ring. But my focus is completely on F1. For the love of speed I would do anything, even IRL, but I have unfinished business in F1. I am sure I can finish higher up, if not winning the Championship.

"I really believe that is what I deserve. It would be a shame not to use the services of someone so eager to do it, plus with all the experience and the speed. It is the right time and it comes with the willingness to do well."

Barrichello admits he was a little surprised that Honda didn't offer him a new contract after tying Button down to a new long-term deal.

"I don't know where we lost ourselves in the first place for me having a contract," he said.

"I should have had a deal a long time ago for next year. I still don't understand what went on in that period when they told me that they had signed Jenson (Button) because he was younger and had a long future ahead of him.

"I said to them: wait a minute, I am here and if you propose to me a three-year contract I will sign. So where is the problem about the long term?

"Then, there were different faces so I don't know which approach they had. A better year than I had, I don't think we could have had. They always knew I wanted to keep on doing it, especially after so many bad years.

"I came from Ferrari to conquer something. At Ferrari they didn't give me the space, and at Honda I had the space but I didn't have the machinery. Now the car is looking better. The slicks are going to be good. So why stop?"
User avatar
By texasmr2
#85398
Time to move on Ruben's, hopefully to another F1 team :wink: , and stop worrying about the reason's behind the corporate decision's for overall survival.
User avatar
By EwanM
#85400
I'm surprised Honda hasn't offered Rubens a drive in its ALMS program.
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By texasmr2
#85404
I'm surprised Honda hasn't offered Rubens a drive in its ALMS program.

Honda is also dropping their ALMS aka Acura effort unless a buyer is found.
User avatar
By EwanM
#85405
I'm surprised Honda hasn't offered Rubens a drive in its ALMS program.

Honda is also dropping their ALMS aka Acura effort unless a buyer is found.


Damn, well I didn't no that.

ALMS won't do well without AUDI either
User avatar
By texasmr2
#85407
Yes it is a very very sad state of affair's and I forsee more casualities in the future. Competative racing can survive and I'm sure it will in one form or another and this sort of economic turmoil rear's it's ugly head atleast once every decade.

We will survive!! :thumbup:
User avatar
By 7UpJordan
#85431
It's a shame for Rubens, but there's nothing more that can be done to try and find a race seat for next year. Notice how he was more shocked than as if someone had signed up someone that was not himself or Bruno Senna.

But if I was Toro Rosso boss and marketing appeal wasn't part of my driver selection criteria I'd have Rubens in and not Buemi or Crash-to.
User avatar
By scotty
#85947
What is Gil de Ferran running at the moment? Isn't it a sportscar team? I read that he and Rubens are very good friends and there is a decent chance of Rubens driving for his current outfit if he cannot stay in F1...
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By Rivelution
#86095
What is Gil de Ferran running at the moment? Isn't it a sportscar team? I read that he and Rubens are very good friends and there is a decent chance of Rubens driving for his current outfit if he cannot stay in F1...


Yeah, De Ferran Motorsports. He drives alongside with Simon Pagenaud and I cant remember what race Scott Dixon raced with them, but they're pretty good. I remember they were battling it out with Audi at Laguna. It was an impressive sight :)
User avatar
By cap-dude
#86133
Someone should buy the old honda team. But I can't see them signing poor ol Rubens. Jenson, yes, but I think Barrichello has seen his day unfortunately.
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By Jabberwocky
#86146
I was watching the ITV year review.... well it is normally called the year review but this year it was called the lewis hamilton year review for some reason.

Martin Brundle was talking about DC and said something along the lines of "At least DC knew when his last race was, and not that he is waiting around over the whole of the winter period being the last one to realise his F1 days are over"
User avatar
By Denthúl
#86150
I was watching the ITV year review.... well it is normally called the year review but this year it was called the lewis hamilton year review for some reason.

Martin Brundle was talking about DC and said something along the lines of "At least DC knew when his last race was, and not that he is waiting around over the whole of the winter period being the last one to realise his F1 days are over"


Poor Rubens. :crying:
User avatar
By texasmr2
#86154
Yah that suck's as Rubens deserves better imo.
User avatar
By scotty
#86161
What is Gil de Ferran running at the moment? Isn't it a sportscar team? I read that he and Rubens are very good friends and there is a decent chance of Rubens driving for his current outfit if he cannot stay in F1...


Yeah, De Ferran Motorsports. He drives alongside with Simon Pagenaud and I cant remember what race Scott Dixon raced with them, but they're pretty good. I remember they were battling it out with Audi at Laguna. It was an impressive sight :)


I take it they run LMP1 cars then? Barichello would be well suited to drving those being an experienced and still very fast F1 driver!
User avatar
By texasmr2
#86163
They ran in the LMP2 class but will run in LMP1 in '09, I retract my previous statement about Acura abandoning the ALMS series, and yes I also think Rubens would fit well into the team aswell as the series.

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