I Can be Champion at Ferrari, Says Barrichello

Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello believes he can still become Formula One World Champion despite playing second fiddle to Michael Schumacher.

With the German continuing to dominate the sport, Barrichello is likely to face another season being overshadowed by the four times champion. But the Brazilian remained positive about his chances on Wednesday, insisting that he can still get on equal terms with his teammate.

"To drive in the team with Michael is very difficult because everything is prepared for him to win more than it is prepared for me to win," he told a news conference at Ferrari's winter retreat. "But the first time I wake up thinking that I can't win anymore that is the time I will stop. Yes, I think I can be World Champion, (racing) with Michael."

Barrichello said it was no longer relevant who is formally the top ranked racer with the Italian team.

"It is not important anymore. As long as I am driving a competitive car and they provide me with the same car as Michael it doesn't matter who is number one or who is number two," he said.

Although Barrichello finished third in the Drivers' Championship last season, he failed to pick up his second career race win and was clearly upset when he was asked to give way to Schumacher in the Austrian Grand Prix in May. Barrichello admitted it was tough to compete alongside the man who has won the last two world titles but said he could not put his finger on what gave the German that vital advantage over him on the track.

He insisted the pair received the same information on performance.

"I couldn't tell you easily what Michael does differently to what I do. The papers are there, open for all to look at and we do checklists at the end of every session and look at what are the problems of everyone. It is not so easy to say 'Well, Michael does it this way and I should do it this way'. We drive it differently, for me it is very clear that the car is equal for both of the drivers."

Advantage

But Barrichello gave some insight into how the German benefited from his status at Ferrari.

"He (has been) there for such a long time and if in the middle of the race he is talking to (Ferrari technical director) Ross (Brawn) for example and I'm not on the line then for sure he is going to have an advantage. Because Ross has a way of looking ahead and, you know, preparing something else and I will be the second option to do it," he added.

Barrichello said the tail-end of the season, after Schumacher had won the title and the team was focusing mainly on him, proved he could be a contender.

"I have proved in the last four races of the championships when the attention was on me that I was able to deal with it and if it wasn't for a little lack of fortune I would have won two of the last four races. I know I will have at least 30-35 percent of the attention and it is growing.

"There will be a time when if I keep on working I think we will get to 50-50 and then that is the right time for me to attack more or to have more results. Right now I feel that I am in a much better shape inside Ferrari than I was two years ago. I like the way things are going. We have the same cars and it is just a question of keeping my determination like I always have."