Possible gearbox change for Barrichello

The Brawn team will decide tomorrow whether to replace Rubens Barrichello's gearbox after admitting there was a chance it might fail in the Italian Grand Prix

"We are going to have a look at all the information and decide, but no decision yet," said team boss Ross Brawn after qualifying at Monza.

"Now we know the fuel weights, we now do all the calculations and see how the race would run, and then decide then. In the morning we will make a decision and sleep on it - there is nothing we can do tonight other than simulate and model."

He added: "There is an element of reliability risk and a question of balancing that against the very good qualifying position he has with the fuel on board, so we are just contemplating it at the moment."

Barrichello's gearbox, in its second race out of the allocated four, was damaged at the end of the previous race in Belgium when his car suffered an oil leak and caught fire.

If the team decides to replace it, Barrichello will lose five places on the grid tomorrow.

The Brazilian was delighted after qualifying in fifth position, and admitted he did not want the gearbox replaced.

"I tell you I think it is a great, great place to be starting," he said. "Being fifth on the grid with possibly the heavy of the fuel loads, I cannot confirm that but hopefully that is the case. It was a hell of a good lap, I enjoy my time fully.

"There is a little bit of a conversation with the team about my gearbox, over the over-torque that happened in the last race, and I don't want it changed - some people want it - I don't want to be leading the race and have a failure, at the same time I have to fight for what I really can achieve which is winning tomorrow.

"It is almost like if you win tomorrow you have a penalty some other time, but it would also be silly to be leading and have a penalty, so I want to have a decision with the team and see what comes out. They are waiting for the fuel of everyone and then putting the plots and seeing what is what."

shares
comments

Looking ahead to the Italian GP

Barrichello slams Briatore's remarks

Why a Qatar sprint race coronation for Verstappen befits a dull 2023 F1 season

Why a Qatar sprint race coronation for Verstappen befits a dull 2023 F1 season

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Qatar GP
Matt Kew

Why a Qatar sprint race coronation for Verstappen befits a dull 2023 F1 season Why a Qatar sprint race coronation for Verstappen befits a dull 2023 F1 season

F1 folk: The 'lucky' engineer who guided Grosjean and helped build Haas

F1 folk: The 'lucky' engineer who guided Grosjean and helped build Haas

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Qatar GP
Oleg Karpov

F1 folk: The 'lucky' engineer who guided Grosjean and helped build Haas F1 folk: The 'lucky' engineer who guided Grosjean and helped build Haas

The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team

The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Damien Smith

The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team

Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers

Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Damien Smith

Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers

When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle

When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Belgian GP
GP Racing

When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle

The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold

The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Jonathan Noble

The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold

The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose

The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Alex Kalinauckas

The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose

How football has posed difficult questions for F1

How football has posed difficult questions for F1

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1

Subscribe