When it comes to the greats of Formula 1, the first name that comes to mind is Michael Schumacher. But many believe his onslaught in the early 2000s wouldn’t have happened had it not been for his teammate’s help. The man who played the perfect wingman to the Ferrari champion was none other than Rubens Barrichello. The team often prioritized Michael’s results over his and the Brazilian gladly followed instructions. That led many to believe that Barrichello was perhaps not quick enough to beat Schumacher. His trusted confidante reveals otherwise.

The partnership between Schumacher and Barrichello between 2000 and 2005 is among the most celebrated in F1. Rubens, during the final lap of the 2002 Austrian GP, famously let Michael pass him to help him seal the driver’s championship. The German great, recognizing his invaluable contribution, returned the favor in the penultimate race of the season in Indianapolis after sealing the championship.

Was Rubens Barrichello quick enough to beat Michael Schumacher?

Sam Michael recently appeared on the F1: Beyond The Grid podcast. Michael started out in F1 as a race engineer for Jordan in the 1990s and rose through the ranks to take up the Senior Director roles at Williams and McLaren before calling it quits on his career in 2014. He was Barrichello’s race engineer for almost the entirety of his career and knew the man really well.

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When asked whether he felt Barrichello had it in him to beat Schumacher, he said, “Rubens was definitely fast enough. You don’t do what he did in Formula 1 and last that period without being quick. And remember this, there’s lots of situations when we spoke about the difference when Heinz Herald [Frentzen] and Lewis earlier on. There’s lots of things that make up what your end results are and Rubens achieved a lot, you know. Look how many Grand Prix he won. Great driver.”

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Sam revealed that Barrichello was not just among the most famous drivers in Brazil, but also in F1 at that time. However, his love for the sport and the fandom of his fellow drivers was almost childlike.

Rubens Barrichello’s massive collection of drivers’ helmets

In the six years, Barrichello was Schumacher’s teammate at Ferrari, he finished runner-up in 2002 and 2004. In 2001, he finished 3rd in the drivers’ standings. His contributions to helping Ferrari win 5 constructors’ championships made him one of the most sought-after drivers. Despite that, he always remained a fanboy of other drivers on the grid.

Sam Michael further revealed, “I think his passion and his enthusiasm for doing the job had not changed at all. He was always the same. Completely in love with the sport and everything about it. I went to Rubens’ house when we were in Brazil. He collects helmets from all the other drivers. Which I thought it was almost like a fan even though he was one of the most popular drivers in Brazil and Formula 1.”

“Sort of endearing in a way. He always thought, from that point of view, he hadn’t really changed. Obviously, he had matured and grown up a bit and he had family and kids, but I think his passion for the sport was unchanged.”

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Do you think Barrichello deserved to win the championship with Ferrari at least once? Given the domination of his own teammate at the time, it certainly was a herculean task for any driver.