Barrichello Extends Ferrari Contract Until 2006

Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello has signed a two-year extension to his contract with the World Champions, ensuring his partnership with Michael Schumacher will continue until the end of 2006.

"Ferrari announces it has extended its agreement with the driver Rubens Barrichello to cover the 2005 and 2006 racing seasons," the team said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Brazilian's contract was due to run out at the end of 2004 and with Schumacher and the key technical staff at Ferrari all tied up on deals until 2006, the announcement ended speculation about a new face at the Italian-based team.

"I'm very proud, I have done this at the right moment in my career and it is another step forward. Clearly Ferrari are happy with my work and I am happy here with Ferrari," Barrichello told a news conference.

"Another two years is not just a question of security because there is still a lot of work to do," he added.

The Brazilian said he had received approaches from other teams but staying with Ferrari had always been his preferred choice. He denied reports that a one-year deal was also on the table.

"There were other contacts that is certain. But my first option was always to stay with Ferrari," he said.

"We never talked about a year it was always another two years and so, in view of the faith I have in Ferrari and Ferrari have in me, we took the path that lead to signing the contract," he said.

Final Member

Barrichello was the final member of Ferrari's record- breaking team to sign a long-term deal, a situation that had caused much speculation, but the 31-year-old said he had never been worried.

"I kept my feet on the ground because I knew that my contract was never related to the same dates as the others. I was calm," he said.

"The (contract) renewal was not based on words but by what I did on the race track and that is the best thing. I was always calm. I had other options, I had the option with Ferrari that was the best and there were other things but I kept cool," added Barrichello.

Barrichello said he had signed the contract at Ferrari's Maranello headquarters on Tuesday having returned to Italy from Brazil.

With Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya moving from Williams to McLaren at the end of 2004 a number of drivers had been linked with moves to Barrichello's slot. The Brazilian collected two victories last season, in Britain and Japan, and finished fourth overall in the Drivers' Championship.

Ferrari have won the constructor's title in all four seasons since Barrichello arrived from Stewart in 2000 after beginning his Formula One career with Jordan.