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Senna Words Influenced Barrichello Move

Ayrton Senna's experiences with Honda and the realisation that he would never be allowed to beat Michael Schumacher have been singled out as the reasons why Rubens Barrichello chose to quit Ferrari

The Brazilian's switch to BAR was confirmed earlier this week and, speaking ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix, Barrichello finally explained the reasons for his decision to swap teams.

"Every change brings a new motivation, that is a fact, but it is the resources, the people, everything," said Barrichello.

"One day Ayrton (Senna) told me about Honda; everything is in plan with Honda and BAR for next year is quite good, there is a good motivation for the team to have someone who is still young and motivated to win and to transform everything in a good way.

"I am not going there to actually say 'change this, change that' I am going there to learn how the team works and I am bringing the 13 years of experience to  make that a winning team."

When asked to explain further about what Senna had told him about Honda, Barrichello claimed that his fellow Brazilian had been fired-up by the Japanese car manufacturer's work ethic in improving their engines.

"I remember because at the time when I started, we shared some dinners and things and he always used to be late and he used to say he was spending time with the Honda boys trying to get the driveability and the power and everything about the car that he liked his way.

"The good thing is that they love this kind of a conversation, he said, and they used to do everything he asked them in order to get everything correct for his driving style and everything. I feel that the Honda is always very powerful and I'm very much looking forward to working with them."

Barrichello's decision to walk out on Ferrari one year before his current contract ends has prompted speculation that he has finally got fed up playing second fiddle to Schumacher.

But despite an argument with the team after Monaco, and further friction at Indianapolis, Barrichello is adamant that he has no bad feelings against the team.

"I had fantastic times at Ferrari and I had bad times too," he said. "The bad times always taught me and the team to improve. People ask me what is the worst time I had at Ferrari and they might think it was Austria 2002.

"I think that was the best time, because that was really good to change things around, really good in terms of respect because they knew I could win races without the help of anyone, so it was probably the turning point of my racing career there.

"But obviously being with the team the whole time, I saw it was going to be very difficult for me to actually try to win the Championship, because you're there, they have two competitive drivers, Michael has been there for longer and I saw my chances much higher with a team that has not yet won a race but has all the desire and the good ingredients to do it.

"That was more the fact that took me to there."

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