Honda s team principal Ross Brawn has said that had the team not had a fuel-rig problem, Rubens Barrichello might have finished second.
Barrichello s second pit-stop was meant to be his last, however a fuel-rig issue meant he was unable to take on enough fuel and he was forced to pit again from P2 to take on more fuel.
Despite this, Brawn is still happy with the team s performance and has paid tribute to Barrichello who earned the team their first podium position since 2006 when Jenson Button finished third at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
“Rubens had a great race,†Brawn explained to ITV. “He really pushed when he had to, and the middle of the race was fantastic. It was a bit like old days.
“The team did a great job as well. Some great calls during the race and we had the right tyres at the right time. We had a problem with the fuel rig which really probably cost us second place, so that’s frustrating, but we shouldn’t be too greedy.
“We don’t have the equipment at the moment, we don’t have the car we need, but if we can work like this when we do get the car we need then we are going to be able to compete. We didn’t have equal pace with other cars at the same time, we didn’t look that special. But I think when we got on the deep groove wets at the right time, we really took off.”
Barrichello has said that the podium comes at a good time for him and that he has no intentions of retiring.
“I think the podium comes at a good time,†he explained. “I have no intention of stopping. I will only stop if I have nowhere else to go, but my intention is to stay with Honda. I have no contracts just yet, but I feel young. I love racing more than I ever did.
“The day that I find that I’m actually slower than in that first race at Kyalami is the day I will stop. Right now I’m just feeling that I’m faster than that day.
“It’s like I’m young, it’s like I’m smiling at problems, it’s like I’m working more. I just love the sport, I just love the speed – I cannot live without it.
“It’s not that I want to prove to Ross that I’m physically capable. He knows that I have the speed and I want to keep on racing.”
