FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[EwanM]

Barrichello secures new F1 deal

By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, March 3rd 2009, 09:40 GMT


Rubens Barrichello will extend his record as the most experienced Formula One driver in history this year, autosport.com has learned, after agreeing a deal to race for the soon-to-be-renamed Honda Racing outfit.

Although it is understood that a final contract has not yet been signed, high level sources close to the Brackley-based team have confirmed that the veteran Brazilian has been given the nod to line up alongside Jenson Button in 2009.

The team are awaiting the final green light from the Honda Motor Company for the imminent management buyout led by Ross Brawn and Nick Fry, and only when that happens will the 2009 deals be finalised.

It is suggested that the situation could be fully resolved by the end of this week, with the team expected to conduct a shakedown of their 2009 challenger in Britain on Friday before joining next week's final group test session at Barcelona in Spain.

"We expect to be able to make an announcement from the company and the team in the near future," the Yomiuri daily quoted a source at the company's Japan headquarters as saying.

"Honda has been making all possible efforts to avoid the worst option of having to disband the team."

Barrichello has started 267 Grands Prix in a career that stretches back to the start of the 1993 season.

Speaking to autosport.com at the end of last year, Barrichello said he was fired up to remain at the Honda Racing despite the uncertainty that had surrounded the team since December.

"I have unfinished business in F1," he said during a visit to England before Christmas to let the team know how keen he was to remain with them. "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.

"If you sign someone with the speed but whose time is over, they will set up the car differently and badly. You are 80 percent of the time going through corners, and you set up the car different compared to someone who comes and wants to go flat out.

"For me, I am still taking it flat - and sometimes this year in qualifying you have that little pimple on your skin saying 'just remember you are not a boy any more' after the corner. So it is still there very much."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73522

[EwanM]

IF this does materialise, what does this mean for the future of Bruno Senna?
I think it is a good move considering Barrichello out performing Button over the course of last year. However he hasn't been behind the wheel of an F1 car for months now. Far less than Senna or Button - will that hurt him?

[Jabberwocky]

just goes to show how highly Ross The Boss rates him

[scotty]

That's great news, and highly unexpected i must say! I hope Honda make it to Melbourne...

As for Senna, he can go back to GP2 and take the title, returning after Rubens retires. I think it'd do him the world of good.

[Gert]

just goes to show how highly Ross The Toss rates him

Or he has some killer dirt on Brawn.

[Denthúl]

I think that this was the decision Brawn wanted to make from a driver point of view. However, had Petrobras said they would sponsor whichever team Bruno Senna went to, then Senna would quite easily have taken the drive, I think.

Still, great news. Now let's hope that the RA109 is the front-runner Brawn is claiming and that Rubens can have that WDC that he deserves. Wishful thinking, yes, but a man can hope, right?

[cap-dude]

Its generally a good feeling to hear such a thing. RB does deserve at least another year at F1.

What does this mean for Senna, its hard to say. A 3rd year in GP2 sounds like the best option, however thats a hard act. With Di Grassi signed for a full year, Hulkenburg signed to Art, and Grosjean will most likely join the party, its going to be seriously competitive in GP2 this year. If he can't win it, can you see him getting a seat next year. Then again, next year there could be a few seats up for grabs. Piquets, Rosbergs (if he moves) or Barrichello if he is actually back with BrawnF1. Would Force India consider driver changes, they got rid of Kolles and Gasycoyne pretty swiftly. USF1 as well will have two seats ready. Its impossible to predict these things in all honesty.

[7UpJordan]

I was hoping to see Senna get the drive, particularly as Buemi has done practically sod all in comparison to Senna.

But I would rather have Barrichello drive as well and not Button. If I was the head of whoever takes over at Honda, I'd be remembering those words Ayrton had to say about Bruno. But if it is Nick Fry who is buying Honda out then that's not surprising.

[headless]

Senna test or GP2 and let Rubens teach or just have a good goodbye season.

[Gaz]

apparently senna is going to DTM.

good for rubens tho least he deserves it based on some of his race craft.

[cap-dude]

apparently senna is going to DTM.

good for rubens tho least he deserves it based on some of his race craft.

I don't think drivers heading to DTM is a great idea. I mean, Paul Di Resta went there, nearly won, and what does he get out of it in terms of F1. GP2 races on the european F1 circuits, and the cars are closer to that of an F1 car. Plus the drivers get more recogition there. Its really the best platform to F1. Why Senna

Also, I agree largely with Senna deserving a seat over Buemi. Buemi proved nothing in GP2. He was barely quick. His race weekends consisted of constantly finishing around 7th and doing well on the reverse grids. His best result in a normal race was 3th. Next to that he finished 4th & 5th once. Not exactly impressive. Senna was consistently going for pole position, and fighting for wins. Clearly money and sponsorship can play too large a role in hiring a driver.

[Denthúl]

Or the name Sebastien?

I think Senna would have been better off in Formula 2 than in DTM, but I think the grid is full now.

[Gaz]

apparently senna is going to DTM.

good for rubens tho least he deserves it based on some of his race craft.

I don't think drivers heading to DTM is a great idea. I mean, Paul Di Resta went there, nearly won, and what does he get out of it in terms of F1. GP2 races on the european F1 circuits, and the cars are closer to that of an F1 car. Plus the drivers get more recogition there. Its really the best platform to F1. Why Senna

Also, I agree largely with Senna deserving a seat over Buemi. Buemi proved nothing in GP2. He was barely quick. His race weekends consisted of constantly finishing around 7th and doing well on the reverse grids. His best result in a normal race was 3th. Next to that he finished 4th & 5th once. Not exactly impressive. Senna was consistently going for pole position, and fighting for wins. Clearly money and sponsorship can play too large a role in hiring a driver.

He did the Ferrari 430 series tho and then went to GP2 i guess he thinks he can do DTM and then F1.

He was unlucky really he should of gone for torro rosso when he had the chance to be fair.

[Denthúl]

apparently senna is going to DTM.

good for rubens tho least he deserves it based on some of his race craft.

I don't think drivers heading to DTM is a great idea. I mean, Paul Di Resta went there, nearly won, and what does he get out of it in terms of F1. GP2 races on the european F1 circuits, and the cars are closer to that of an F1 car. Plus the drivers get more recogition there. Its really the best platform to F1. Why Senna

Also, I agree largely with Senna deserving a seat over Buemi. Buemi proved nothing in GP2. He was barely quick. His race weekends consisted of constantly finishing around 7th and doing well on the reverse grids. His best result in a normal race was 3th. Next to that he finished 4th & 5th once. Not exactly impressive. Senna was consistently going for pole position, and fighting for wins. Clearly money and sponsorship can play too large a role in hiring a driver.

He did the Ferrari 430 series tho and then went to GP2 i guess he thinks he can do DTM and then F1.

He was unlucky really he should of gone for torro rosso when he had the chance to be fair.

I doubt he'd have got the drive. As soon as the sponsorship money couldn't be provided by Takuma, STR went straight for Bourdais. I think the same thing would have happened to Senna, seeing as they had already signed one rookie driver.

[7UpJordan]

apparently senna is going to DTM.

good for rubens tho least he deserves it based on some of his race craft.

I don't think drivers heading to DTM is a great idea. I mean, Paul Di Resta went there, nearly won, and what does he get out of it in terms of F1. GP2 races on the european F1 circuits, and the cars are closer to that of an F1 car. Plus the drivers get more recogition there. Its really the best platform to F1. Why Senna

Also, I agree largely with Senna deserving a seat over Buemi. Buemi proved nothing in GP2. He was barely quick. His race weekends consisted of constantly finishing around 7th and doing well on the reverse grids. His best result in a normal race was 3th. Next to that he finished 4th & 5th once. Not exactly impressive. Senna was consistently going for pole position, and fighting for wins. Clearly money and sponsorship can play too large a role in hiring a driver.

He did the Ferrari 430 series tho and then went to GP2 i guess he thinks he can do DTM and then F1.

He was unlucky really he should of gone for torro rosso when he had the chance to be fair.

I doubt he'd have got the drive. As soon as the sponsorship money couldn't be provided by Takuma, STR went straight for Bourdais. I think the same thing would have happened to Senna, seeing as they had already signed one rookie driver.

If Berger had stayed on I wonder if he would have chosen Senna ahead of Buemi despite his hints that Dietrich Mateschitz had the final call?