Rubens Barrichello: Michael Schumacher Never Offered Any Help as a Teammate

Former Ferrari and F1’s most experienced driver, Rubens Barrichello opened up on Michael Schumacher as a team mate. The Brazilian raced for Scuderia Ferrari between 2000-2005, partnering Michael to five drivers and constructors titles. Speaking to Beyond the Grid podcast, Barrichello opened up on what it was like to partner Michael.

 “I always made friends and I’ve always had a good relationship with all my team-mates. He was never supportive. He was never there to offer help so I never asked.”

 “There are team-mates that you can go and ask but you could see that he was different, he was a bit naive in the way that he worked. So many times we’d finish a meeting and then they’d start another one with just Michael there so I’d took my chair and would just sit there.”

“Eventually I felt that the team was his.”

Ferrari committed to Michael as their number 1 driver. Throughout his time, Rubens Barrichello was playing a supporting role for Schumacher’s title ambitions. Over the first couple of seasons with the Prancing Horse, Barrichello placed 4th and 3rd in the drivers standings of 2000 and 2001 respectively. He was consistently outperformed by Michael Schumacher, and the two McLaren drivers.

During the 2002 season, their relationship reached its possible apogee. During the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, Barrichello controlled most of the race. Towards the end of the race, then team principal Jean Todt ordered Barrichello to let Michael pass. This would help improve the German’s world championship prospects. After arguing, Barrichello finally yielded. On the start-finish straight, he let Schumacher pass him, finishing in second, much to disappointment and outrage of many fans.

Despite Schumacer letting him take the winners trophy and stand on the top-step of the podium, the damage was done. Barrichello and Ferrari’s relationship was damaged beyond repair.

Despite the debacle of the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, he would finish 2nd in the championship. Both Ferrari drivers would outscore the rest of the grid. No further such incidents took place, but he remained the number two driver for the team, who focused on Michael Schumacher’s dominance.

A 2nd place in 2004 standings saw him score 114 points. It remains the only time he surpassed 100 points in a season. After Ferrari struggled with performance in 2005, he would finally leave the team after six trophy laden, albeit underwhelming seasons for him personally. Overall, he competed in 104 races for Ferrari, winning 9 and stepping onto the podium a total of 51 times.