Barrichello Plans to 'Attack' Schumacher Next Season

Rubens Barrichello believes he can beat Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher and win the World Championship next season.

"That's not just fantasy, that's the absolute reality," Barrichello told Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper when asked if he thought he could beat seven-times World Champion Schumacher.

"I want to be World Champion against him, and I'm going to attack Michael again next year. I'm not going to quit until I recognise that Michael is better than I am. Until now that hasn't been the case. I have the same speed as Michael."

Brazil's Barrichello, second once again in the standings behind Germany's Schumacher, said he was "an emotional person" in the past but had learned his lesson. "But now I'm driving ice-box, just like Michael," he added.

Barrichello said he and Schumacher were friends despite being rivals on the track. "If true friends call each other on New Year's and Christmas, then we're good friends," he said.

"But on the track we put that all aside."