Barrichello’s BAR move

Rubens Barrichello wants to finally follow in the footsteps of Ayrton Senna after stepping out of Michael Schumacher’s shadow to sign for BAR-Honda.

Barrichello, 33, was hailed as Senna’s natural successor after a stunning rise through the junior ranks, but his momentum stalled when his fellow Brazilian was killed in 1994.

Barrichello finally won his first grand prix in 2000 after moving to Ferrari, but by then he had accepted a subservient position to Schumacher which obliged him to back up the German’s title challenge.

The Sao Paolo-born driver has finally tired of playing second fiddle to Schumacher and quit Ferrari a year before his contract expired, taking up a multi-year contract at BAR for 2006 onwards.