Rubens

Barrichello
300 Grands Prix
Brought to you by

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 Introduction
Sir Jackie Stewart

One of the hallmarks of Rubens’ career has been his commitment and dedication to the
sport, so this incredible milestone of 300 GPs hasn’t come as a surprise to me. His focus and
communication skill with the engineers is first class and that, along with considerable ability,
has kept him at the top of Formula One.
I retired from driving on the eve of my 100th grand prix and Rubens has now completed three times that A celebration of
number. That’s a marvellous achievement. A driver seldom tires of driving grand prix cars; it’s the business
that surrounds the driving – the travel, the time away from home – that grinds you down and Rubens has Rubens Barrichello’s
300 Grands Prix
managed his life in such a way that he can deal with that.
It’s with great fondness that I look back on the time Rubens spent with Stewart Grand Prix between 1997
and 1999. When we set up the team we were looking for a driver who had at least some experience of F1
and we chose Rubens. We’d competed against him as Paul Stewart Racing in Formula Opel, Formula 3 The most enduring career in F1 history
and Formula 3000 and we liked what we saw.
There are three unquestionable highlights from our time together. There was Monaco ’97, when he
climbed from 10th on the grid to be second on the podium, Pole position in the French Grand Prix in ’99
and the European Grand Prix in ’99, when Johnny Herbert and Rubens finished first and third. All were
wonderful occasions.

© F1 Racing Custom Photos: LAT Photographic, Getty Images

Many congratulations, Rubens, on this latest achievement. You’re like a fine wine: you keep on improving.
I look forward to seeing you and AT&T Williams back on the podium again soon.
Here’s to the next 100 races!
Best wishes

Brought to you by

Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, RBS Global Ambassador

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 Born to race

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Jordan Team Principal Eddie Jordan
(seated) poses for publicity photos with
his new signing, 20-year-old Rubens
Barrichello, at start of the 1993 season
Barrichello300 PD v4.indd 6-7
The Memorable
early moments
years
“I’d seen Rubens race in Formula 3,”
says Eddie Jordan, “but it was only when
Ayrton Senna called me to say what
a great kid he was that I thought
seriously about signing him.”
After some impressive winter testing
performances, Rubens made his Formula
One debut for Jordan at the 1993 South
African Grand Prix. Despite being two
months short of his 21st birthday, he
immediately demonstrated his aptitude for
F1 by qualifying his Jordan-Hart 14th, one
place ahead of Gerhard Berger’s Ferrari.
1993 European GP 1994 Pacific GP
He remained with Jordan for four
seasons, taking a couple of podiums, Rubens overtakes Alain Prost A gutsy drive at an unfamiliar
before switching to Stewart Grand Prix for and Damon Hill to lie second, track yields a podium finish.
but he runs out of fuel with In only his 18th grand prix,
’97. Under Sir Jackie Stewart’s guidance, six laps to go. “It would have Rubens finishes third at Aida
he consolidated his reputation as an F1 been wonderful to be on the behind Michael Schumacher
podium with Ayrton,” he says. and Gerhard Berger.
front-runner. He took four podiums for
the team, which attracted the attention of
Ferrari, who were looking for a team-mate
to Michael Schumacher.
It was then that Rubens stepped into
the big time and he didn’t disappoint.
The first of his 11 wins came at
Hockenheim in 2000.
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1994
San Marino GP
Rubens breaks his nose and
fractures his arm in a high-
speed crash in practice, on
the same tragic weekend that
both Roland Ratzenberger
and Ayrton Senna are killed.
Barrichello300 PD v4.indd 8-9
1997
Monaco GP
He shines in the wet to finish
second, giving Sir Jackie
Stewart’s new team its first
podium finish on a day when
many of the leaders made
elementary errors.
1999
San Marino GP
Rubens passes his mentor
Sir Jackie Stewart’s tally of
99 grand prix starts. He
qualifies the much-improved
SF-3 sixth and then races
strongly to finish third.
1999
French GP
His second pole position and
first for Stewart GP, plus a
podium finish. His reward is a
Rolex. “He threw his old one
at me as he drove down the
pitlane,” says Sir Jackie.
A driver seldom tires of driving; it’s the
time away from home that grinds you
down and Rubens has managed his life in
such a way that he can deal with that
Sir Jackie Stewart RBS Global Ambassador
2005 2008
Malaysian GP Turkish GP
It’s a difficult final season at In his third season with
Ferrari, with the Prancing Honda, Rubens becomes the
Horse slipping off the pace, most experienced driver in
but Rubens keeps smiling F1 history. He surpasses
as he knocks up his double Riccardo Patrese’s record of
century of race starts. 256 starts at Istanbul Park.
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2010
Monaco GP
On a classic drivers’ circuit,
Rubens gets in amongst the
manufacturer-backed entries
that dominate the top 10
during qualifying.
Barrichello300 PD v4.indd 10-11
Barrichello’s
F1 career stats
Season Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
1993 Sasol Jordan 16 0 0 0 0 2 18th
1994 Sasol Jordan Hart 15 0 1 0 1 19 6th
1995 Total Jordan Peugeot 17 0 0 0 1 11 11th
1996 B&H Total Jordan Peugeot 16 0 0 0 0 14 8th
1997 HSBC Malaysia Stewart Ford 17 0 0 0 1 6 13th
1998 HSBC Stewart Ford 16 0 0 0 0 4 12th
1999 HSBC Stewart Ford 16 0 1 0 3 21 7th
2000 Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 17 1 1 3 9 62 4th
2001 Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 17 0 0 0 10 56 3rd
2002 Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 17 4 3 5 10 77 2nd
2003 Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 16 2 3 3 8 65 4th
2004 Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 18 2 4 4 14 114 2nd
2005 Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 19 0 0 0 4 38 8th
2006 Honda Racing F1 Team 18 0 0 0 0 30 7th
2007 Honda Racing F1 Team 17 0 0 0 0 0 20th
2008 Honda Racing F1 Team 18 0 0 0 1 11 14th
2009 Brawn GP F1 Team 17 2 1 2 6 77 3rd
2010 AT&T Williams 12* 0* 0* 0* 0* 30* 11th*
Total: 299 11 14 17 68 637
* Up to Hungarian Grand Prix, 1 August 2010
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 Rubens, the man
You’ll have your own memories of Rubens’
Formula One career. That first podium at
Aida in 1994, perhaps, or his first win at
Hockenheim in 2000? And what about his
barnstorming drive at Silverstone in 2003?
All were great races, but they don’t tell
us much about Rubens’ motivation, or
why, aged 38 and with 300 Grands Prix
under his belt, he’s still capable of
amazing feats in a racing car. At the
Hungarian GP this year he left television
viewers around the world breathless after
his stunning overtaking move on Michael
Schumacher, and you sense he has
plenty more up his sleeve.
The secret to Rubens’ longevity is his
family. His parents, Rubens Snr and Idely;
his sister Renata; his wife Silvana and his
boys Eduardo and Fernando are the rocks
on which the longest career in F1 history
has been built.
“I don’t know what Rubens gets up to
in Brazil,” says Mark Webber, “but I want
some of it! He flies back after each race
and arrives in the F1 paddock two weeks
later looking completely refreshed.”
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Barrichello300 PD v4.indd 12-13
These trips home distance Rubens
from the pressure-cooker environment
of F1’s European hub and they allow him
to be the son, husband and father that
he so relishes. The loneliness that
characterised his early career, when he
left home aged 16 to pursue his dream in
the European Opel Lotus Championship,
are a distant memory.
“When I started in Europe,” says
Rubens, “it sometimes felt inhumane to
separate me from my family for so long.
It was very difficult. Now I see a lot more
of my family and I have a good balance
in my life. That helps me when I’m out
on the racetrack.”
But even when Rubens is in the bosom
of his family in São Paulo, his thoughts
don’t stray far from racing. His parents live
near Interlagos, the home of the Brazilian
Grand Prix, and he still makes regular trips
to the circuit’s kart track, where his career
began way back in 1978.
If he wants to switch off from racing
completely, he heads either to the golf
When I started it sometimes felt inhumane
to separate me from my family for so long.
It was very difficult. Now I see a lot more
of them and I have a good balance
Rubens Barrichello
course or to his farm one hour north of
the city. The property is nestled in typically
rolling Brazilian savannah, and, as you’d
expect of a man addicted to speed, he
has a bunch of off-road karts with which
to keep his hand in.
The rejuvenating effects of home and
family life are what keep Rubens fresh
and he’s admitted to being a more
rounded character since the births
of his sons in 2001 and 2005.
“I remember getting home after a bad
race,” says Rubens, “and my boys weren’t
interested in what had happened at all.
All they wanted was for me to play with
them and I learned then not to take my
work home with me. Tomorrow is more
important in this sport than yesterday.”
Such an insatiable appetite for more,
combined with his commitment, passion
and unprecedented levels of experience
are what make Rubens such a force in
grand prix racing. When combined with
the family atmosphere at AT&T Williams,
you have a recipe for more on-track
success in the future.
27/08/2010 11:15
 Rubens remains one of the
most popular drivers on the
Formula One scene – and
his autograph is coveted by
fans of other teams, too…
Rubens has raced alongside
F1’s two greatest drivers,
his compatriot Ayrton Senna
(above) and former team-
mate Michael Schumacher
Barrichello300 PD v4.indd 14-15
Even as he reaches his 300th
grand prix, Rubens never
feels tempted to put his feet
up and take it easy during
a grand prix weekend
Still a formidable competitor
after 18 seasons in the sport,
Rubens attributes his
motivation to a carefully
judged work-life balance
At Bahrain this year, Rubens
opened a brand new chapter
in his career by making his
first grand prix start for the
AT&T Williams team
Barrichello’s trademark
celebration has become
a familiar sight at F1
circuits around the world
15
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 A last-minute call-up with Brawn GP Rubens’ dedication to maximising
before the start of the 2009 season performance is legendary, and he’s no
enabled Rubens to chalk up more wins stranger to late nights in the garage

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 The wins
1 2
2000 German GP
Hockenheim
After starting 18th, Rubens
outwits his rivals in a wet-dry
race to scythe through the
field and take his maiden
win in F1. “He made all the
strategy calls,” says Ferrari’s
tech boss Ross Brawn.
18
Barrichello300 PD v4.indd 18-19
2002 European GP
Nürburgring
Williams dominate qualifying,
but Ferrari are the team
to beat in the race. When
Michael Schumacher spins
out of the lead, Rubens picks
up the pieces and wins his
second race (pictured above).
3 4
2002 Hungarian GP
Hungaroring
An imperious lights-to-flag
victory from pole position for
Rubens, the consummate
team player, on a day when
Ferrari seal the Constructors’
Championship with four races
of the season still to run.
2002 Italian GP
Monza
A brilliant overtaking move on
Juan Pablo Montoya gives
Rubens the lead and he
disappears into the distance.
With Schumacher coming
home second, the Tifosi
go home happy…
5
2002 US GP
Indianapolis
Michael Schumacher looks to
be leading the Ferrari one-two
until he lifts off along the pit
straight on the final lap,
enabling Rubens to pull out
of his slipstream and pip him
to the win by 0.011s.
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6 7
2003 British GP
Silverstone
Rubens overcomes two safety
car periods (one caused by a
track invader) and overtakes
Kimi Räikkönen twice to win
the race from pole position
(pictured above).
20
Barrichello300 PD v4.indd 20-21
His focus and communication skill
with his engineers is first class and
that, along with considerable ability,
has kept him at the top of Formula One
Sir Jackie Stewart RBS Global Ambassador
8 9 10 11
2003 Japanese GP 2004 Italian GP 2004 Chinese GP 2009 European GP 2009 Italian GP
Suzuka Monza Shanghai Valencia Monza
A dominant win from pole An early pitstop drops Rubens Withstands enormous After a last-minute call to The team loses momentum
position. Rubens comes home to ninth, but that doesn’t stop pressure throughout the race for Brawn GP in 2009, mid-season and Rubens has
11sec ahead of Räikkönen, him. His resultant charge race from Räikkonen and Rubens bags his first win for to battle his way to the front
which is enough to ensure through the field to retake Jenson Button to win the five years following a perfect from fifth, finishing 3s ahead
Schumacher beats the Finn to the lead is mesmerising first grand prix in China drive around the unforgiving of team-mate Button to take
the world title by two points. (pictured above). from pole position. streets of Valencia (pictured). his third win at Monza.
27/08/2010 11:16
 Barrichello
and AT&T
Williams
After winning two races last year, Rubens
had plenty of job offers for 2010. But he had
eyes only for one team: AT&T Williams.
“I’ve always wanted to drive for this team,”
he says. “I have a lot of respect for Frank
[Williams] and after visiting the factory and
meeting all the people I didn’t speak to any
other teams. We have a mutual goal, which
is to make Williams win again.”
With AT&T Williams looking for an
experienced driver to lead the development
of its new Cosworth-powered FW32, it was
the perfect partnership. Rubens became
the fourth Brazilian to race for the team.
The 2010 season started with a solid
points-scoring finish in Bahrain, but it was
only after the introduction of mid-season
performance upgrades that the team began
to score points on a regular basis. Rubens’
technical input into these improvements
cannot be underestimated.
“He’s a bloody good driver,” says Frank
Williams. “He has a tremendous feel
for what the car’s doing and he’s very
thoughtful. I’ve no doubt that we’d be a
weaker team without him because he’s
been an essential part of the team’s
technical progression this year.”
With more upgrades scheduled for the
coming races, the goal for the rest of the
year is simple. “I want to finish on the
podium,” says Rubens.

I have a lot of respect for Frank Williams

and after visiting the factory and meeting
all the people I didn’t speak to any other
teams. We have a mutual goal
Rubens Barrichello

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 Rubens’ technical input,
born from his considerable
experience and his instinctive
feel for a car’s behaviour at
the limit, is highly prized

He has a tremendous feel

for what the car is doing
and is very thoughtful.
I’ve no doubt we’d be
a weaker team without
him, because he has
been an essential part
of the team’s technical
progression this year
Sir Frank Williams Team Principal

Formula One is a sport that

doesn’t stand still; every team
faces a race off the track as
Celebrating his landmark 300th well as on it, to develop and
Formula 1 race, Barrichello’s upgrade their cars
AT&T Williams car sported a
personalised livery at the 2010
Belgian Grand Prix

25

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 There’s two sides to
Rubens Barrichello.
On the one side,
a great ambassador...

Congratulations Rubens on reaching

your 300th Grand Prix. An achievement
like this takes extraordinary passion
and determination.
You are an exceptional ambassador
for this magnificent sport as well as
a fine role model.

rbs.com

Rubens returned to the winners’ circle

at Valencia in 2009 – and he wasn’t the
only person who enjoyed the moment…

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 ....on the other side,
a supreme competitor.

Congratulations Rubens on reaching

your 300th Grand Prix. More races than
any other F1 driver.
Only the ultimate competitor could reach
a milestone like this.
And, as the ultimate enthusiast, you
have many more races to come.

rbs.com

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