[DOF_power]

Racing with Schumacher and Ferrari
Barrichello threatened with sack at Austria '02
25/11/08 09:00


Ferrari effectively a one car team
in the Schumacher era



Rubens Barrichello has this week continued his tirade against Ferrari and Michael Schumacher.

The veteran Brazilian, whose record-setting formula one career looks at an end, has followed through with his promise to one day reveal more about his six-year tenure with the famous Italian team.

On the Brazilian TV programme Fantastico, he claims he was threatened with the sack while he led the infamous 2002 Austrian Grand Prix.

While circulating in front of Schumacher, Barrichello said he was told over the radio: "Do you know that Michael is behind you? It's important for the championship."

He said his conversation with the pits lasted for eight laps, before an ultimatum was presented on the final tour.

"The intensity of the conversation increased with every lap. And then I was told to think about my contract," said Barrichello.

"For me it was clear - take your foot off the gas or you will be going home."

Barrichello said he was appalled by the turn of events, and asked Schumacher afterwards if he had anything to do with the decision.

"He said he had nothing to do with it, but I have the documents at home to prove that he was aware of everything that took place," the 36-year-old insisted.

Source: GMM

[onearmsteve]

i'd like to hear more.

not really shocking stuff though.

[DOF_power]

True, it was always team Schumacher, except in 99 when Schumacher to be fair supported Irvine after his accident.

[Racer Duck]

though Schumacher might have known what the team bosses were doing, doesn't mean he had anything to do with their decision do to it. maybe he complained, maybe he didn't. unless he or the team bosses talk, only they will know (unless someone has transcribed radio communications )

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

though Schumacher might have known what the team bosses were doing, doesn't mean he had anything to do with their decision do to it. maybe he complained, maybe he didn't. unless he or the team bosses talk, only they will know (unless someone has transcribed radio communications )

Make no mistake about it, Schumacher was the no. 1 driver, always.

The secret of Schumacher's success is, that besides being a top driver, he knew how to surround himself with great men witch he defriended, influenced and connected with, to the point that they would follow him anywhere, excel for him and support him no matter what.

All his titles where won in cars designed by Rory Byrne (the most successful F1 designer of the last decade) and always with Ross Brawn as the chief engineer (the most briliant strategist in the sport's history).

When he switched from Benetton to Ferrari most of the important personal followed him leading to the rise/rebirth of the Scuderia and the downfall of Benetton.


Excluding '99 due to his accident, it was always team Michael Schumacher, regardless of the team and team-mates.

the guy is just awesome... I always love to hear and read more about that racing god... he's just awesome and he drives phenomenally my dream car..

[Shawn Mike]

Schumacher is the god of F1 and every one agrees that....he's the pride of Ferrari or I would say Ferrari complements him.....both together are complete otherwise incomplete

[Bob Tanner]

The F1 Series, its drivers and its media, have a real talent for turning people off.

THis is no surprise but it's something I just try and overlook.

Speaking only for myself, but every time I start to get enthused about F1 racing, I run across a story such as this one which makes me realize that the type of racing I admire and the type of racing F1 epitomizes, are two entirely different types of auto racing.

I watch racing to get away from politics, not to become even more deeply immersed in it.

[DOF_power]

That's because it's the type racing that understand winning ans is willing to so what it takes.
It's the exact opposite of everything S. Moss believed (namely fair play, gentlemen behaviour and the refusal to see this racing as a military opperation ).

I'm not a worshiper of M. Schumacher, but I do acknowledge what he achieved. Nobody in this sport history (or motorsport maybe) both understood and worked so hard to crush the opposition and achieve domination.
R. Barrichello did have to suffer at Ferrari, but without Ferrari he wouldn't have achieved anything in his career, and Ferrari without Schumacher and his band of brothers would NOT have managed to dominate the sport. So in the end, objectively Barichello did achieve more with Schumacher and Ferrari that he would without them.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

That's because it's the type racing that understand winning ans is willing to so what it takes.
It's the exact opposite of everything S. Moss believed (namely fair play, gentlemen behaviour and the refusal to see this racing as a military opperation ).

I'm not a worshiper of M. Schumacher, but I do acknowledge what he achieved. Nobody in this sport history (or motorsport maybe) both understood and worked so hard to crush the opposition and achieve domination.
R. Barrichello did have to suffer at Ferrari, but without Ferrari he wouldn't have achieved anything in his career, and Ferrari without Schumacher and his band of brothers would NOT have managed to dominate the sport. So in the end, objectively Barichello did achieve more with Schumacher and Ferrari that he would without them.

Hmmm...??? About the only thing I can reply with to your above is that sometimes winning and crossing the finish line first isn't always the same thing. The article was centered on team orders and, speaking only for myself, but I consider a "managed" win something less than authentic.

I agree, Michael achieved a Hell of a lot. He is undeniably a great driver and has earned the right to be compared with the sports best. But...

Insofar as his multiple championships and wins, would that number change IF his team mate had been in equal equipment and had been given the green light to win and not just play the role of "wingman?"

I stand by my original statement.

[WestCoast]

Sure is interesting to look at that particular "team" relationship within Ferrari. No doubt that Rubens got his career brake when Ferrari called and should be grateful just for that alone, but being a racer, he must always wonder what could have been if their Masters let the team-mates race for the Championship.
Especially in 2002 and 2004 when he came in second. Team orders all the way, or just beaten by a better racer.
Personally I think that MS would have come out on top either way, but RB did get his 9 (10) victories fair and square.
His current stint at Honda is just a golden parachute that other drivers have taken advantage of in the past.
Either way a great career.

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Hmmm...??? About the only thing I can reply with to your above is that sometimes winning and crossing the finish line first isn't always the same thing. The article was centered on team orders and, speaking only for myself, but I consider a "managed" win something less than authentic.

I agree, Michael achieved a Hell of a lot. He is undeniably a great driver and has earned the right to be compared with the sports best. But...

Insofar as his multiple championships and wins, would that number change IF his team mate had been in equal equipment and had been given the green light to win and not just play the role of "wingman?"

I stand by my original statement.

It wouldn't have made a difference unless his team mates would have been
Senna and/or Alonso and they would brought their own staff.
As to the equipment it was equal but, excluding team orders, some of his team mates complained that the car was build around Schumcher's driving style. That's because Rory Byrne, Ross Brawn and all the important people responsable for the cars where Schumacher's friends/team/allies.

To get an equal shot it would have been only fair that these equal team mates would have had to bring the same money, know-how, staff (Byrne, Brawn) and motivation to the team that Schumacher did.

And guess what they didn't, not even close.

The only rival Schumacher fought for an entire season (Senna died in early '94 so he's excluded) that was similar to him in most ways was F. Alonso. And they only fought for a season.

All the rest of his rivals, either where incapable to pull and push a team forward, could not connect well with the staff and/or where technicaly ignorant and/or suffered motivation issues and/or made too many mistakes.

Schumacher did't win a lot because he was (just) a great driver, but because he was a great/the greatest total package and team player.
And from '93/'94 with Prost's retirement and Senna's death, there was not a single great total package rival untill Alonso reached maturity and Renault rose as title contenders.
Even if Senna wouldn't have died at Imola in '94, he was at that point a step bellow Schumacher, and no longer the king/emperor/god that many thought he was.