12/01/2005
NEWS STORY
Speaking in Madonna di Campiglio, Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello talked of the 2005 car, and much, much more.
First off, the Brazilian was asked how he finds the 2005 set-up.
"Different," he replied, diplomatically. "I think it is a car that we have to learn, to experience from the start. I tested a first version of the car that we're going to have in Melbourne. It's a car that slides more due to the new rules so it's a bit different to drive, let's say, but it's still fun, faster.
"You lose a bit of braking power in slow corners and in pick-up after slow corners, but it's still a fun car. But next week is going to be extremely important with the tests in Barcelona."
In recent years, there were always many pit stops, with teams asking their drivers to 'push, push, push'. This year, are the teams going to ask something different of their drivers, since they have to get to the end of a race with tyres in an 'acceptable' condition?
"Well, it is something that we still have to learn," the Brazilian replied. "I don't think we can drive the cars in the same way as we did last year, pushing from the beginning to the end. The problem now is that if you flat-spot a tyre, you're virtually finished.
"At Monza, for instance, it might be dangerous after that, so I think we're going to have to work out during the race whether we have to start pushing or not," he revealed. "As far as the tyres are concerned, I've been extremely satisfied with what Bridgestone brought to Jerez during the couple of days that I did at the end of the year, because I think that those tyres were already a step forward, a major step forward, in terms of performance, as well as in terms of wear.
"But also, having said that, I still think that races have to be learned. We are going to have to use our heads more than our feet, again, sure the feet, but also our heads are going to be important in 2005."
Of course, being in the (permanent) shadow of Michael Schumacher, one has to ask if Rubens ever tires of being the 'number two'.
"What can I say?" he shrugs, "I'm always there, I'm always fully committed.
"If, one day, I should start thinking and say that 'look, I will never catch Michael' I'm sure that from that day I would not stay at Ferrari because I would lose the motivation to be the best. I still have the motivation to be the best. Whether this will take place this year, or another year, we don't know. It's going to depend on my work, it depends on what I can do, it will depend on how I will adjust to the new rules. But these are just words. I have to keep my right foot down, I have to use my head, I have to be as calm as I have been, like I drove in Brazil. I was really happy that I was calm, I drove the car easily, because I really wanted to drive the car because I love what I do, because I have a team behind me which is extremely nice, with all the engineers, my mechanics, everyone and so really it is all enjoyable from my point.
"I'm also happy that Michael is in the team because it means that we can push even more, each one pushes the other to go faster.
"When I started my career with the Ferrari, we always tried to be something in words or with a mental status, but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what number I'm carrying on my car. The one that I'm looking forward to having on my car is the one that's the most important. I hope to have number one by the end of the year. By having number two now doesn't necessarily mean that I'm second. As you could see, I've been doing my best to get the maximum out of the car, and at the end of last year I really think that we were doing a fantastic job together and I was able to win races such as Monza and Shanghai, so it doesn't really matter.
"I'm just up for it. I think Ferrari give us both the same treatment and the same car, so it doesn't really matter having number one or two."
Finally, asked if he dreads the thought of 19 races, Rubens replied: "It's going to depend, because at the end, yes, we have 19 races, however there is perhaps going to be less testing for us. The team has focused on using Badoer and Gene and this is going to be new for the team and they are very good drivers and they are going to carry out most of the testing.
"That's good because in between races... for instance, we will be able to stay in Australia, so I think it's going to be easier from that point of view.
"I like racing in Formula One because I like races, so 19, 20? That doesn't change much," he admitted.
"I would just like to have two or three races in Brazil," he added with a grin, "that I would like."
To check out our gallery of images from Madonna di Campiglio, click here