Barrichello Eyes Third Place in the WC

Rubens Barrichello has admitted that he is going into the last race of the season hoping to clinch the third place in the World Championship from McLaren's David Coulthard.

With nine points deficit, Barrichello will need to win the race with Coulthard out of the top six finishers. "I'm now nine points behind Coulthard," Barrichello said ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix. "To finish third in the championship would be the greatest thing. I need to win with him not finishing in the top six, which is quite difficult, but the fight is still open. Malaysia is a good place, and I like going there, and I'm looking forward to driving the car as much as I did in Suzuka."

Barrichello did not overrule the possibility that to achieve this task he would be aided by teammate and newly crowned World Champion Michael Schumacher. "Michael can help me," the Brazilian said, "but it's too far away to get an idea. We have to see where we stand after qualifying."

Barrichello and Schumacher need to score just three points between them to secure Ferrari the Constructors' Championship. Barrichello said he is confident that the two will get the job done, and added that: "Whatever happens, I think I can sleep quite well. I did quite well in my first year to have 58 points up to now, and who knows, maybe in Malaysia I can score some more. And if we can win both championships, it means that I've brought something good for the team."

Barrichello also said he was genuinely happy that Schumacher won the World Championship, saying the German was the worthy champion.

"When I knew he was champion [in Japan], I was actually thinking that Michael deserves it more than anyone this time," Barrichello recalled. "If it was myself up there winning for Ferrari, it would have been an injustice. He worked five years for this to happen, he deserves it, and the team deserves it too.

"I think I have been able to help, if we go back and see the win in Hockenheim, for example. That day it was looking like a one-two for McLaren, so by finishing first I gave something to Ferrari, even though Michael wasn't there. So I feel that I've been part of it.

"After the race in Japan I just told Michael that I was so happy for him and he deserved it, and he just said, 'Thank you very much, there have been more than a couple of times that you helped me, and I appreciate that.' So it was great to hear that too."