Nationality - Brazilian
Date of Birth - 23 May 1972
Marital Status - married to Sylvana
CAREER HISTORY
One of the many Brazilian drivers to have been
hailed as the new Ayrton Senna, Rubens Barrichello has yet to leave a lasting
mark on Formula One, despite putting in some fine performances with both Jordan
and Stewart. Still only 26, Rubens is amongst the most experienced drivers on
this year's grid, and finally gets his chance at the big time with Ferrari.
A product of the Sao Paulo kart scene, Barrichello came to the attention of many F1 managers in 1990, as a 17-year old competing in the GM Lotus Euroseries. Six victories clinched the title at the first attempt, and Barrichello moved swiftly into Formula 3.
Success followed success as Barrichello won the British F3 series in his first season. Driving for the ultra-successful West Surrey Racing team, he edged out rival David Coulthard courtesy of four wins and nine pole positions.
Continuing his meteoric rise towards Formula 1, Rubens signed for the grandly named Il Barone Rampante team to contest the International F3000 series. Still only 20 years of age, the young Brazilian performed consistently to finish third overall.
His performances in the junior formulae attracted much attention, and Barrichello found himself in the top flight having spent just one season in each of the lower levels. His grand prix debut came at Kyalami after team boss Eddie Jordan gambled on the combination of Barrichello's speed and prodigious talent.
Just three races into his F1 career, Rubens stunned his rivals - and the crowd at a soaking wet Donington Park - by running as high as second in the European GP. Although fuel pressure problems saw him retire from the race, young Barrichello had confirmed Jordan's belief in him.
Senna's death at Imola in 1994 left Barrichello shouldering much of Brazil's expectation. A poor season with Jordan that year - in spite of a wet weather pole at Spa - was followed by more of the same in 1995-96, and Barrichello left to join the new Stewart team for the 1997 campaign. An impressive performance at Monaco - like Donington, in appalling conditions - netted second position, confirming that he had not lost any of the talent which had propelled him into F1.
Barrichello continued as team leader with Stewart throughout 1998, as the team entered the traditionally difficult second season period. Promising results in both Spain and Canada - where Barrichello took fifth places - failed to lead to anything better and the Brazilian found himself partnering Jos Verstappen as well as original team-mate Jan Magnussen.
Rubens stayed loyal to Stewart for 1999, where he was joined by Sauber refugee Johnny Herbert. The Brazilian hoped, successfully, that Herbert's arrival, and that of former Jordan designer Gary Anderson, would lift the mood in the team, and raise Stewart to new heights. Sadly for Rubens, however, it was Herbert who brought the team its first F1 win, at the Nurburgring in September.
Although he was slightly overshadowed
by a resurgent Herbert towards the end of the year, Barrichello was still Ferrari's
first choice to replace the departing Eddie Irvine. Being teamed with Michael
Schumacher might not be every driver's cup of tea, but Rubens maintains that
it is the best indicator of his own talent. Time will tell whether the supposed
equality policy works in the Brazilian's favour, but surely he will now end
his win drought.
GRAND PRIX RECORD (TO MALAYSIA 2000)
Starts 129
Wins 1
Poles 3
Fastest Laps 3
Points 139
Debut South African GP (Kyalami)
1993
Driven For Jordan (1993-96), Stewart
(1997-99), Ferrari (2000-01)