Belief still strong in Barrichello

Brazil’s Rubens Barrichello believes he will be world Champion one day - even if Michael Schumacher carries on racing.

The 29-year-old yesterday agreed a new two-year deal to stay at Ferrari until the end of the 2004 season, matching Schumacher’s current contract with the team.

Four-time champion Schumacher has indicated he could well continue after that date even though he will be approaching his 36th birthday.

But Barrichello is confident about his own prospects, insisting: ‘‘I think I can still be world champion.

‘‘Even if others think there is no way, I have this thing inside myself. You have to have dreams in life.

‘‘When you stop having dreams there is no motivation to have a life in full. I still wake up every day thinking it is going to be a winning day whether I am racing, testing or with my family.’’

Barrichello, whose new deal was announced as he arrived in Austria yesterday for Sunday’s grand prix, added: ‘‘I don’t think of Michael stopping in 2004 and me leading the team. If you think that way you are always in trouble.

‘‘If I had thought at the beginning of the year that I had to show them I was capable and then they are going to re-sign me I would never have done it.

‘‘I am just concentrating on doing the best I can day to day. When we get to 2004 it is going to be so different so I don’t think about that.

‘‘I don’t know if Michael will stop. It’s different for someone who thinks his physical condition is not as good as before so I might as well stop.

‘‘Physically, he never goes down so it will be difficult for him to say one day I will stop.’’

Schumacher applauded the decision to re-sign his team-mate of the past three seasons, believing Ferrari have got the stability in place to continue their current success story.

Both drivers, sporting boss Jean Todt, technical director Ross Brawn and chief designer Rory Byrne are all now contracted until the end of 2004.

'‘It is important that you keep stability,’’ said Schumacher. ‘‘We are looking very good at the moment and there was no need to change anything.

‘‘I am very happy with Ferrari’s decision. Rubens has done a fantastic job for us and we have a good relationship. There was nobody who could do the job better.’’

Schumacher’s main concern is bidding for a fourth successive victory this season on the A1-Ring at Zeltweg to extend his 21-point advantage in the drivers’ standings over the Williams-BMW of Juan Pablo Montoya.

But Schumacher is expecting a much closer battle from the Williams of Montoya and younger brother Ralf than in Spain last time out when he enjoyed a crushing victory.

‘‘Everything in Barcelona was in our favour the tyres, the aerodynamics, the whole package and we made the most of it,’’ said the German.

‘‘I do not see that here because it is a stop-and-go circuit. Williams were strong in the race last year and I assume they are going to be closer but I still hope that we have a little bit of an advantage.’’