Barrichello happy to be party pooper

Barrichello happy to be party pooper

Rubens Barrichello is determined to spoil the homecoming party for Jenson Button later this month.

Button is guaranteed to be cheered from the rafters by what will be a sell-out Silverstone crowd for the British Grand Prix on June 21.

Brawn GP team-mate Barrichello, though, has other ideas as he is eager to bag Formula One's version of the hat-trick.

Known in F1 parlance as the 'grand chelem', the Brazilian wants the fastest race lap, pole position and victory, a feat he has failed to achieve during his 17 years in the sport, and after 274 starts.

At a track Barrichello adores as he has won once, been runner-up twice and finished third on three other occasions, he will be a man on a mission in 13 days' time.

"I love the place, I love the track," enthused Barrichello.

"I don't want to just win the race. I want a hat-trick there. I want everything. I want fastest lap, pole position. It's like that."

Barrichello's desire is fuelled further following the first failure of his car in yesterday's Turkish Grand Prix, not aided by the fact Button went on to win his sixth of seven races this season.

The 37-year-old is now staring at a 26-point chasm to Button, so sparking fears of his time at Ferrari when he was often trounced by Michael Schumacher.

"Jenson is very illuminated at this point, and he is taking all his opportunities," assessed Barrichello.

"He almost has a Michael kind of thing going on because things are opening right in front of him without much of a problem.

"So it's really good for him."

But these are different days at Brawn compared to his six years at Ferrari when everyone knew who ran the show.

That was clear prior to yesterday's race in Istanbul as explained by Barrichello.

"Because I get on with Jenson quite well, it's fair between us, and we both want to win. I wanted to know if we could fight after the second pit stop, or whether we had to take care, reduce the revs and so on," said Barrichello.

"So I mentioned it to him before the race and we both went to see Ross (Brawn), to put the case to him, to let him know we both wanted to be free to race.

"We were told there was freedom, which was different to my time at Ferrari. For six years I couldn't freely race there.

"So after the meeting I felt very good. I felt it would be a good day to claw back some of the points.

"Unfortunately there is happiness in Jenson's face right now and not on mine. I'm hacked off with the situation.

"But tomorrow is another day, and Silverstone is a great track for me and I will go there and try to win the race."

Despite the gap opening up between the two men, Barrichello feels confident Button will not steamroller his way to the title.

"Until mathematically it is over, then it is open," insisted Barrichello.

"But I cannot see him running away with it because we have been so fair and square for our three years together.

"One year he was better, the next it was me, so I don't see him better now and winning every race this season.

"At some point there will be a drop and I want to be there to conquer."

 

Click here for Turkish Grand Prix hightlights!


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