Barrichello, Ferrari Not in Contract Talks Yet

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello says he is very happy working at Ferrari, and revealed that the discussions about the renewal of his contract have not begun yet.

29-year old Barrichello, driving for World Champions Ferrari since the start of the 2000 season, has a contract with the Maranello-based squad until the end of the current year, and though the Brazilian said he hasn't talked to Ferrari about his future yet, he claimed that his situation is very stable.

"At the moment I am very happy with my situation with the team," said Barrichello today. "We have not yet sat down to talk about the future, but I feel at home here and the team seems to be happy with me.

"I'm not taking any notice of the media, because one day the papers write I am out and the next that I am in. At the moment, the situation is very stable. Michael (Schumacher) and I make a good team, working together well on the development programme of the car."

Barrichello, who has only won once race since joining Ferrari, is currently in fifth place in the drivers' standings after scoring his first points of the season at the San Marino Grand Prix two weeks ago.

He finished second behind his teammate Schumacher to give Ferrari a dominant one-two finish at Imola. However, despite their domination at the Italian circuit, Barrichello refused to make any predictions ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix.

"It is difficult to know what to expect this weekend," he said. "McLaren has usually gone well here in the past, as they test here a great deal, as does Michelin. But who knows? Because in Imola, everyone was saying the track would suit Williams and we won.

"Bridgestone has worked very hard to produce a tyre that works well in very hot conditions, while Michelin is working to improve in the opposite conditions. The weather looks like being hot and I expect to have a good tyre for these conditions."