Editor
Exclusive with Rubens Barrichello:
Aston Martin is a good option for Max Verstappen’s future, my fond memories of Michael Schumacher and Antonelli can be a world champion
Speaking exclusively to PokerScout, former Ferrari, Honda, and Williams Formula 1 racer Rubens Barrichello discussed all the recent news within the sport.
Barrichello, who raced with Michael Schumacher and Jos Verstappen, also spoke about his former teammates’ sons and their futures in racing, whilst looking back at memories with the fathers.
Read the full interview below:
Question. Where do you think Max Verstappen goes next season?
Rubens Barrichello: “Max Verstappen is a happy guy, he’s enjoying life and you can see the emotion when he puts the Red Bull on pole, he’s getting more out of the car than what it should produce. Verstappen has gratitude for what the car used to be able to produce, which makes a good combination. For sure, he’s a driver who won’t be short of offers to join rival teams, but I don’t think that will dominate his thoughts, he’s focused on producing results now.”
Q. If Verstappen were to leave next season, could you see him joining Mercedes or Aston Martin?
RB: “You would say right now, Aston Martin is a good place to be for the future, so Max Verstappen will be thinking about that at some point. But, Formula 1 is a clever world, and it’s amazing how they can develop their cars. I was a pain in the arse as a driver, because when the engineer would tell me they’ve made a change to the car, I would be really critical. Now, you can appreciate that they can make machines fly past so quickly, it’s amazing.”
Q. Is Jos Verstappen the main influence in his son’s life?
RB: “I raced with Jos Verstappen and I liked him very much as a teammate. I don’t know what he’s like as a dad, though. There are two types of dads, one will sit down with their kid and discuss their future plans. The other type will say ‘look here kiddo, you’ll do this’. I can’t imagine Jos doing that to Max, I think Max is the main guy and will evaluate the situation, but he’ll definitely listen to Jos’ advice.”
Q. What was Jos Verstappen like as a teammate?
RB: “Jos Verstappen was very funny, we had plenty of good times as teammates. We did spend some time together but he was a bit younger than me. He was a super guy and always was.”
Q. What’s your fondest memory of Michael Schumacher as a teammate?
RB: “Michael Schumacher had some great times together, a few bad ones too. We stopped contacting each other as much when our families came around, we’re both family guys. There was a time after we raced in Suzuka, he said, ‘Where are you going?’ and I was off to Disney World. Turns out Michael was heading there too and offered us a lift on his plane. We spent time together at Disney World with family and friends.
“I was very competitive at Ferrari and I wanted to fight for my rights in the team, but Michael and I had a good time together as teammates.”
Q. Michael Schumacher has signed Jackie Stewart’s helmet for charity, is that a sign he might be getting better?
RB: “I don’t have any contact with the Schumacher family, but if it was Michael [Schumacher] who signed the helmet, that’s really good news.”
Q. Have you spoken to Mick Schumacher? Could we see him come back into the sport?
RB: “I see Mick Schumacher when he’s racing in hypercars, my son Eduardo is racing for Aston Martin in a GT3, I see Mick sometimes in the paddock. He’s a very, very nice guy. Obviously, I don’t ask him anything about Michael’s [Schumacher] health because the toughest thing for the family must be people asking about it a lot. I don’t want to be intrusive.
“There was a lovely time when we met with Mick and he asked ‘Tell me a good moment you had with my dad’ I told him a story that made him laugh. It was a very nice moment. I wish Mick all the best because he definitely has the talent to drive.
“F1 in the 1980s, we had 36 cars, which gave plenty of drivers the opportunity to get a chance in the sport. When you have 20 cars and a lot of people with cash, it makes it very difficult for the likes of Mick to get back into F1.”
Q. Are you impressed with what Kimi Antonelli has achieved?
RB: “I’m really impressed with Kimi Antonelli, he has that different level compared to other racers his age. He’s very skilful and humble, he needs to keep that flow. Toto Wolff will be very good at managing his progression, too. I was 19 when I joined F1, that was tough, so I can’t imagine the pressure he is feeling. Antonelli can be a world champion for sure, at some point.”
Q. Does Verstappen need a stronger teammate?
RB: “Being in the sister car to Max Verstappen is the toughest job in F1. There’s a lot of pressure in it. Unfortunately, you don’t get the respect when you perform in that role. I honestly believed, from the bottom of my heart, that Sergio Perez was not the right person to drive alongside Verstappen at Red Bull, but he ended up doing so well. Perez showed he’s the right person to do that role. He won Monaco with Verstappen as his teammate.
“Red Bull may have waited too long to get rid of him, but he proved a lot of people wrong. When I see people talking badly about Perez, I defend him now, he did so well. Red Bull needed a change and Perez needed it too.”
