Barrichello Still Confident of Winning a Title

Rubens Barrichello announced his determination to become World Champion after signing a deal to stay with Ferrari until 2004 on Thursday.

The 29-year-old said rumours the team had considered dumping him for Jenson Button or Felipe Massa were "bullshit" and immediately warned teammate Michael Schumacher he is not staying just to make up the numbers.

"I think I can win the World Championship," said Barrichello today in Austria. "I have two good things - I am experienced and I am still young. It is still something that people would think 'no way' but I always wake up thinking it can be a better day."

The Ferrari 'dream team' is set to storm on for another two years at least after Barrichello completed the final piece in the jigsaw. Team boss Jean Todt and technical gurus Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne last year signed along with Schumacher to stay until 2004.

World Champion Schumacher backed his Italian team for holding onto Barrichello but insisted the Brazilian is going to give him a tough time.

"He has done a sensational job for us and I do not think he is as far away as people make him," Schumacher said. "There is no need to change anything. The two cars are very close together and if one fails the other is going to win."

Briton Button, who had been rumoured to be in line to replace Barrichello next year, also conceded Ferrari will be very hard to beat in 2002.

"I think that is going to be very difficult for anyone to beat them, especially us," he said. "They are so far in front at the moment it is a big step forward."