When Rubens Barrichello departed from Formula 1 at the end of the 2011 season, no one expected that the Williams driver would soon be missing Fernando Alonso more than most of his former colleagues. Over the years, his love for the Asturian revealed itself; “What he does is spectacular, very beautiful to see.” While it’s quite clear that the 51-year-old has nothing but love for his former colleague, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree either.

Fernando Barrichello, son of the Brazilian legend, has also taken a few learnings from watching Fernando Alonso’s perennial competence. While “Fufu” may have a legendary F1 driver in his father at home to guide him as he traverses Brazilian Formula 4, the influence Alonso has had on the 19-year-old revealed itself in a recent interview.

Rubens Barrichello’s son opens up about Fernando Alonso’s influence

Rubens Barrichello is one of the few racers lucky enough to have a child that wants to build on his legacy. Fernando Barrichello has not allowed that assumption to change. The 19-year-old made his single-seater debut with Full Time Sports in the first F4 Brazilian Championship in 2022, quickly proving his worth. Barrichello ended the year with two wins at Interlagos and four podiums. He would soon get an opportunity to race in Spanish F4 as well but moved back to his home series after a mediocre few outings.

His strong start in single-seater racing comes as no surprise to most aware of his father’s background, but Fernando Alonso’s influence was made fairly evident in an interview with Feeder Series at Interlagos. The young prodigy was quoted by SoyMotor, “Of course I’m looking at Fernando. When my dad was in F1 I was a kid. But I always use great people as inspiration, not only inside the car, but also outside, athletes who work hard, who do everything for sport for love.”

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The young Brazilian F4 racer felt growing up around Formula 1 racers helped shape his future prospects and how to go about achieving them. Barrichello added, “I love to see drivers like my father, or like Alonso, who at 42 years old is there, who could go home and do nothing, but he really likes to do what he does. And for my father, to see him at the age of 51 racing in Stock Cars because he likes it a lot. They are a great inspiration to me,” he said.

Fernando Alonso is still a formidable force in F1 despite being 42 years old. After all, the Spaniard finished fourth in 2023, ahead of the future championship favorites George Russell, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc. Adding to his stint with Toyota in the 24 Hour of Le Mans, Alonso is the perfect role model for any budding racer. This puts Fernando Barrichello in a prime spot to gather valuable insights from one of the sport’s greatest.

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But even with his father to guide him throughout his journey, Barrichello feels a Formula 1 driver’s influence can be beneficial to some extent but can turn into a curse soon after. This is why in 2024, the former Ferrari icons will take a back seat and let “Rubinho’s” son flourish as he paves his way through the Brazilian F4 grid.

Fernando Barrichello dismisses his father’s guidance to focus on independent growth

While many would believe having a former F1 driver as your father would help massively in the journey to F1. Ultimately, Fernando Barrichello’s pace is up to him alone. The 19-year-old shared that the pair had quickly realized whilst working together that their difference in experience would only hamper the young prodigy’s growth. He was quoted by Feeder Series, “So sometimes having him around a lot can be difficult because he sees something I don’t, and he ends up doing [the necessary adjustment] for me. There’s a good side to this, but the truth is that I don’t learn, I can’t identify problems on my own.”

It’s not only important for Barrichello to become a competent racer but also to be equally knowledgeable about the car’s mechanisms. After all, a driver’s feedback is crucial to understand what changes can be made to maximize performance. A prime example of the same would be Niki Lauda, who was able to fine-tune his Ferrari just by driving it for a few laps. For Fernando Barrichello to get to that level, the F4 driver will need to swim on his own.

Barrichello has increasingly taken on a more independent role without his father there to foresee the car’s set-up. He concluded, “I make a car set-up with Marcelo, and at the end of the day, I tell my father what happened, and he gives his opinion. I really believe in my own path, in my own process, that everything happens for a reason. I’ve been going through my difficulties on and off the track, but everything will fall into place one day.”

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It’s safe to say Fernando Alonso’s illustrious career has inspired the young Barrichello. But with his decision to not seek the help of former F1 drivers, will Fernando Barrichello’s career match his father’s? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.