Rubens to BAR

[2ofdem]

from: http://www.planet-f1.com/news/story_20625.shtml

BAR sign Rubens
Tuesday August 16 2005


BAR have confirmed that Rubens Barrichello will drive for the team in 2006.

The Brazilian, currently with Ferrari, joins on a "multi-year" deal.

The move had been widely predicted since the announcement earlier in the year that Barrichello would leave Ferrari at the end of the current season.

It is not yet known whether Jenson Button will still be at BAR to join forces with Barrichello.

The Briton has signed a contract with Williams for next season but has been trying to cancel that agreement to stay with BAR.

Barrichello will replace either Button, should he leave, or Takuma Sato. Nick Heidfeld has also been linked with the team.

Barrichello has helped Ferrari win five Formula One Constructors' World Championships in the last five years, but has always had to play second fiddle to Michael Schumacher in the Drivers' standings.

Barrichello, who is being replaced at Ferrari by Felipe Massa, said: "I am very excited to confirm that I will be joining BAR Honda in 2006.

"I wish to thank everyone at Ferrari for six fantastic years. I have won many races with them and I am proud to have helped the team, to date, to win five Constructors' World Championships.

"However, my target remains winning the Drivers' title and to achieve that I felt that I needed a renewed motivation.

"I have been watching BAR Honda's progress for some time and have been struck by the spirit and determination of a team that has all the right ingredients to win races and go on to win World Championships.

"I can't think of anything more exciting than working with the team and Honda to achieve our shared ambitions together.

"Obviously I have a job to do at Ferrari until the end of the season, but I am very happy about the fantastic times that I know still lie ahead."

Nick Fry, BAR's chief executive, was delighted to announce the switch.

He said: "Signing Rubens represents another exciting milestone in BAR Honda's development and in Rubens' own career.

"This is a strong and successful team that is determined to achieve its World Championship ambitions and we are confident that these will be realised soon.

"Rubens is not only an excellent driver, but he has the experience of building a race- and championship-winning team and these skills are very important as we work to take BAR Honda to the next level."

[bigmuz]

Be good to see if he can do anything. I don;t think he is really number one, but he must be pretty bloody capable. Not often he fucks up.

On a side note poor old Jenson, off to Williams...

Muz

[John]

so you are writing off Williams as a serious contender? They had a bad year, so did Mac last year remember, and look where they are.

I'm quite sure Williams will turn things around. I think button will be alright at his new home, just hope he doesn't show up webber too much, but I very much doubt he will.

J

[bigmuz]

Nah not really writing them off, just been heartbreaking to watch MW cop so much shit in an underperforming car.

I really hope they can get their shit together. Hopefully their relationship with Cosworth works out better than the BMW deal ended...

I think there is a definite synergy twixt MW and JB. Both young, hungry go getters with a similar style of driving; aggressive and tactical. Hopefully this works out for them. I guess I am assuming it is Webber who will stay next season with Jenson and not Heidfeld, but to be honest, Heidfeld has probably been better than Mark (on paper at least)..

Muz

[John]

Well I'll leave it to Nafe to give you the full broadside about webber vs heidfield, :) but I'll think you'll find if you look carefully behind the actual paper results, webber has been faster and more consistent in just about every race.

Heidfield got a few better grid positions, including a pole at Nuerburgring, but he's always gone for a different strategy to webber, and it seems to have paid off on a few occasions, ie running very very light. I would doubt very much whether some one like Frank thinks Heidfield is a better driver to be in a williams than Webber is.

Yes, should be a good matching between those too, much like Kimi and Montoya I'd say.

[bigmuz]

I was kind of stirring saying Nick> MW, I really feel bad that Mark hasn't had luck or a really competitive car this season. I have no doubts at all about the fact that MW will be world champion sooner or later. It has been a year to forget for all Williams really. I wonder if they really know what their problem has been? If their new aero to suit the new engine will cure their major issues of rear tyre wear (that's how I see it anyways..)

Muz

[RacinJason]

I think piss drinking comp would sort the two Williams boys out.

In the Red, Yellow and Black corner we have Ze German Beer beast of Stuttgart - Nick 'Vill mina tankard ya' Heidfeld.

In the Green and Gold corner we have the Queensland keg on legs, the ahatolla of wine and sprirts - Mark 'two hands for beginners' Webber.

Like I said a good piss drinking contest followed by some three wheeler - Big wheel driving skill tests in front of the main straight crowds on race day!

THAT is the proven way to determine who is indeed the Number 1 driver!

[RacinJason]

Seriously - some years a team might get it right, and other years the whole thing is horribly wrong. Williams have had a bad year, but they learn from their mistakes quickly.

Problem is that Mclaren is having a stormer, as is Renault. Poor Ferrari, had loads of good years, and a shitty start this one has them on the back foot.

The door is open for BAR to do something special - and I don't mean abuse the rules!

Essentially if Williams and Ferrari get their act together, then next year we will potentially see 5 teams at a similar level - and that means we go back to the old days where the racing was close and the personalities of the drivers is exposed through their driving styles.

Lets not forget as well, with all the drivers changing seats there will be a lot of them trying to impress in their first year. I expect Massa will be one to watch if he can stop trying to make his car an offroader/ demo derby/ airplane!

2006 is looking good.

[Nucci]

In the Green and Gold corner we have the Queensland keg on legs, the ahatolla of wine and sprirts - Mark 'two hands for beginners' Webber.



Mark Webber Queenslander? Methinks not, he's a NSW boy!

[John]

i thought he was from canberra, no?

[Cplus]

Queenbeyan (sp?)

[John]

aha, just across the stateline.

John

[Nucci]

Queanbeyan, NSW right next to Canberra. Also home of David Campese, George Lazenby et al.

[bigmuz]

Racin Jason, once again you have me scratching my head. :confused:

Muz

[Condor]

I have high hopes for him.