Feature: Barrichello Needs a Boost in Austria

Jacky Ickx sounded perplexed last week when he spoke to an Italian reporter about Ferrari's Formula One domination.

The Belgian, a guest at the start of the Mille Miglia historic race, expressed his pride in the team that gave him his first win in 1968 and for whom he was Championship runner-up in 1970.

But he added: "I find it incredible that Barrichello, who is good and quick, never manages to succeed. I don't know if he has bad luck but he certainly resembles Chris Amon."

The comparison with Ferrari's Brazilian and Ickx's 1968 teammate is a beguiling one as Rubens Barrichello seeks to finish a race in Austria on Sunday for only the second time in six outings this year.

In Spain, his car stalled and failed to start the race. In Australia, on pole, he was shunted out by Ralf Schumacher. In Brazil and Malaysia, the engine and hydraulics failed after he had led. Teammate Michael Schumacher has, meanwhile, won four races and finished third in the other.

Amon suffered similarly in his time, although anyone who survived one of the most dangerous eras in Grand Prix history must have had some luck on his side.

Now a farmer in his native New Zealand, he competed in 27 races for Ferrari between 1967 and 1969 and never won any of them, despite leading repeatedly. In 96 career starts, second was his best.

Enzo's Verdict

Amon frequently pulled away only for something to go wrong. His car would grind to a halt or something trivial, such as a strap on his goggles, would give way.

"In the three years he drove for Ferrari, he never achieved the success he deserved," wrote Enzo Ferrari in his memoirs.

Those same words could yet haunt Barrichello, now in his third season at Ferrari and with just one win in 152 career starts. But the Austrian Grand Prix serves as a reminder why, in the modern age of Ferrari and Formula One, comparisons can be unfair.

Grand Prix people are fond of saying that a racing driver makes his own luck, and even the great Juan Manuel Fangio admitted that he had his fair share of it, but sometimes the dice can be loaded.

Last year's Austrian race left no doubt about Barrichello's position within the team, a status very different to that enjoyed by Amon.

It was at Spielberg that Ferrari ordered him to cede second place to Schumacher, with the season still in its infancy. He did so, but only after several reminders.

Barrichello has rarely been given free rein at Ferrari, a team built around four times World Champion Schumacher, and has rarely been able to assert himself. When he went faster than Schumacher in practice at Imola last month, the German simply jumped into his car and put it on pole.

There have undeniably been times when the 29-year-old has had a chance, such as last year when the title was won with four races to spare, and failed to seize it. But otherwise he has been a dutiful number two.

Barrichello insists he is not unlucky, suggesting that he should be considered blessed rather than cursed. He has a happy domestic life, is a contented father and is driving the best car in the business. But another win for the other man in red overalls would be welcomed by the fans.

This weekend, particularly if Schumacher's Austrian jinx strikes again and prevents the German from taking a first victory at Spielberg, could help the Brazilian say Amen to further comparisons with Amon.