Barrichello: I can still be champion

Eddie Irvine famously described being Michael Schumacher's team mate as 'like being hit around the head with a cricket bat every fortnight,' and Barrichello will have endured it for one more year than Irvine by the end of 2004.

It is widely speculated that Schumacher will retire then, but Barrichello denied that a potential chance to lead the team in 2005 had any influence on his thinking.

"You can't see things like that or else you couldn't do the job. I have to look at doing my best while Michael is here and I think I am improving and doing a good job. Michael might have the records and the numbers but he is not getting slower and it's hard to see him stopping."

"I don't feel that I've got a lot to prove," Barrichello continued. "After seven years experience in cars that didn't give me the right support, I have taken a couple of seasons to understand properly how Ferrari works and to take full advantage, but things are working well now.

"I feel great. There was a lot of bullshit in the press but the deal has worked out nicely. Everyone was talking about 2003 but the fact that it's a two-year deal shows that Ferrari is as committed to me as I am to them. It's good, like a family, and I'm really pleased."

Barrichello made his F1 debut for Jordan at the start of 1993. He stayed with the team for four seasons, before switching to Stewart for 1997. After a successful campaign in 1999 he attracted the attention of Ferrari. He moved to the team in 2000 and has been team-mate to Michael Schumacher ever since.

For Schumacher's reaction, click here.