Wednesday January 12th, 2000

Rubens Barrichello said on Wednesday he would start the new Formula One season on an equal footing with Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher.

"If I have a chance to win in the opening race they'll allow me to win," the Brazilian told reporters during the team's traditional winter break in the Italian Dolomites.

"If Michael has 20 points more than me half way through the championship then clearly I'll help him.

"We'll have the same equipment, the same car, the same engine. Clearly I'm racing to win," said Barrichello, who joined the Italian team from Stewart. "I haven't come to Ferrari to be behind anyone. My aim is to win every race."

In recent seasons Ferrari have named Schumacher as their number one driver and have inserted a clause in his co-driver's contract obliging him to move aside to allow the German former world champion to finish in front.

But after Schumacher broke his leg at Silverstone in July and team mate Eddie Irvine emerged as a title contender, the team was forced to back track.

Schumacher eventually returned to support Ferrari and Irvine's challenges for the constructors' and drivers' titles. Ferrari won the first crown while Irvine finished the season as runner-up to McLaren's Mika Hakkinen.

Barrichello said his switch of team and his impressive performances in initial practice with Ferrari had brought a surge of interest in his native Brazil.

"The Brazilians are very excited at seeing one of their own at Ferrari and, above all, to see a Brazilian who is capable of winning a race or - who knows - something more," he said.

Barrichello said he had yet to discuss matters with Schumacher face to face. "We have a lot of things to talk about before the start of the season," he added.

Barrichello on life and hopes with Ferrari

"Being in the Ferrari team means that I have a chance of winning races," said Barrichello at Madonna di Campiglio today. "It's a fantastic opportunity. I've been asking God to give me this opportunity ever since I started my Formula One career," said a lyrical Rubens.

And he's not at all intimidated by the season that awaits him. "I'm not going into this year's World Championship aiming to come second," he continued. "Both Michael and I have the same equipment and the races themselves will decide who becomes the championship contender. I'm starting the season hoping to win every race. If I find myself twenty points behind in the championship, then I shall have to look again at my role within the team.

"But I don't have a sense of stress either, a sense of having to win every race. I had a sense of stress in 1994 and I don't want to go through that again. The important thing is to use your head, not just your arms and legs to drive."

So will Rubens Barrichello be Number Two driver for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro? "We - Michael and I - both race for the team, and my results depend on me. If, at the first race, I have a chance of winning, then I know that the team will let me win. I haven't come to Ferrari to lag behind."

Rubens was then asked what Michael Schumacher thinks about the situation. "We are going to have to talk about quite a lot of things," the Brazilian replied.

How does he feel at Ferrari? "Being at Ferrari is like being in a family. Some of the other teams that I've driven for haven't felt nearly so warm," he admitted. As for languages, Rubens reveals that "I speak English to the engineers when I'm in the cockpit, but when I'm out of the car, then I speak Italian. I think the team appreciates that."

As for his compatriots, he says that there's a lot of interest at home. "In Brazil, they are very excited about having a Brazilian at Ferrari. It's very encouraging, because it is the first time that a Brazilian has had a chance to win Grands Prix since Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet were in Formula One."

Rubens admits that even though he's only done around seven or eight days testing with the team, it feels as though he's been with them for a couple of years. "It's been a hectic schedule. I've done more than 3000 kilometers of testing. In fact one day I was just going round and round and round and they forgot to call me in for lunch. But it wasn't a problem. I'm in good shape, I've been doing lots of training.

"I love the atmosphere and I feel very comfortable in the car. It's a relatively easy car to drive. It hurt a bit to begin with, but that was soon sorted out and now I'm at ease in the car."

Whereas Michael Schumacher knows how to ski, the International Formula One press meeting is Rubens's first experience on skis. He had his first lesson yesterday (Tuesday) and another today, apparently enjoying it. "If I were to ski at home," said the Brazilian, "it would have to be on sand dunes!"