Monday February 14th, 2000

Rubens Barrichello can become a Formula One title contender this season if he asserts himself at Ferrari, former world champion Jody Scheckter said on Monday.

"He's got to be tough and make things happen around him," said the South African, who won Ferrari's last drivers' title in 1979.

"If he goes faster than Michael (Schumacher), the team will start supporting him and stop supporting Michael."

Brazilian Barrichello has joined Ferrari from the Stewart team, now renamed Jaguar, and has been told that he will start the season as an equal to former champion Schumacher.

Scheckter, whose 19-year-old son Tomas will test for Jaguar later this season, said he was looking forward to the battle between the Ferrari drivers.

"One of the things to look for this season is how is Barrichello going to do against Schumacher?" Scheckter said in an interview with BBC radio.

"Is Schumacher as good as people think he is or was Irvine not really doing the job and making him look good?"

Briton Eddie Irvine became Ferrari's main hope last season after Schumacher broke his leg but lost out to McLaren's Mika Hakkinen by one point.

Irvine has since moved to Jaguar.