Barrichello sympathises as Schuey rules out Mika
Ferrari ace Rubens Barrichello has sympathised with Mika Hakkinen over his ailing title hopes after yet another no-points finish in Monaco, but world champion Michael Schumacher believes the McLaren ace is now firmly out of the running for this year's Formula 1 drivers' crown
After seven races, Hakkinen has scored just four points this season, compared to Schumacher's 52, following the German's fourth win of the season in Monte Carlo last Sunday.
"Mika is a driver who is undoubtedly worth more than the four points he has scored so far," said Barrichello. "When he dropped out of the race, it certainly helped Ferrari, but we want to win out there where it counts - on the track."
Hakkinen has retired from four races out seven and admits that he is unlikely to take his third world championship this year. After the Finn's retirement at the weekend, Schumacher believes that the fight for this year's title is between him and Hakkinen's McLaren team mate David Coulthard.
"I said after Austria that Hakkinen is out of the running," said Schumacher. "With Ralf failing to pick up points at Monte Carlo, the fight is between David and I."
However, Schumacher admits that Hakkinen's lack of points is not entirely of his own making. He said: "Coulthard has finished every race this season - only Mika has been really unlucky."
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