Rubens: I made old drivers fashionable

[Guest]

Caps lock is activated.

[Dare]

While he finished high in the WDC I think the only person
who believes he challenged for the title is Rubes himself.
I'd have loved it if he would have stayed at Brawn then
Ross hired Michael,Rubes would have flipped his lid





Saturday, 06 February 2010 10:31

Rubens Barrichello reckons his world championship challenge in 2009 convinced the Formula 1 paddock that veteran drivers still had a lot to offer.

The 37-year-old Brazilian now has a record 288 grands prix under his belt and is entering his 18th full season of F1 with Williams this year.

He came third in the points standings with Brawn last season, pushing team-mate Jenson Button hard for the title at times.

It is this performance that Barrichello believes opened teams' eyes to the potential of older drivers – and helped pave the way for comebacks by 41-year-old Michael Schumacher and 38-year-old Pedro de la Rosa with Mercedes and Sauber respectively.

"It’s good to see them back," Barrichello said.

"I think that after last year when I drove a competitive car and almost won the championship, [it] obviously gave the people in the paddock a different sensation."

Barrichello reckons the new testing restrictions have also brought older drivers back into favour at the expense of the young rookies who flooded into the field in recent years.

"Five years ago it was all about Kimi Raikkonen and 'he’s 22 years old' and it was about new drivers. Formula 1 wanted new drivers all the time," he said.

"So [Robert] Kubica was the same and then so on.

"Now, with no testing, it just makes the older drivers attractive."

He added that even with so many years of F1 behind him, he was still highly motivated to help Williams get back to the front this year.

"I’m up for it," said Barrichello.

"I’m very motivated and all my experience will count so I’m going to give them all the feedback possible to be winners.

"But if that’s going to be the case we have to wait and see – [it's] still unpredictable."

[John S]

While he finished high in the WDC I think the only person
who believes he challenged for the title is Rubes himself.
I'd have loved it if he would have stayed at Brawn then
Ross hired Michael,Rubes would have flipped his lid

I think he has flipped his lid in this article.   He can't tell the difference between a great car being driven by a 2nd rater like him and a great driver turning heads in a 2nd rate car.

[Williamsfan]

I don't think he's a second rate driver, but I also don't think he's anywhere near as good as he believes he is.  He did become a contender last season at times and I think really he never stood anything more than an outside chance of winning it. 

It will be interesting to see how the team dynamic goes at Williams if Hulkenberg begins to beat Barrichello over consecutive race weekends.

[Dare]

I'd imagine if Hulkenberg starts getting the best of
Barrichello the voices will start telling Rubes will
return to the antics of last year!crying when you
win and crying when you lose