Another damp squib for Barrichello

Rubens Barrichello was left cursing the Brazilian weather after his hard luck story on home ground continued at Interlagos today.

Barrichello had finished just one grand prix in his home city, a fourth place in 1994, prior to lining up on pole position today.

He had high hopes of delivering the victory his passionate home fans demand after dominating the weekend but the Brazilian elements intervened to shatter his dream.

Rain just before the start forced most drivers to start on intermediate tyres in conditions Barrichello admitted were the Achilles heel of Ferrari.

“I think the conditions were not favourable because it was raining and stopping and in those damp conditions we are not fantastic,” he said.

“If it stayed dry we would have had a better pace, and if it was wet as well, but it was intermediate.

“If we have any weak point at the minute it’s when it is damp. When it is wet we are the best and if it is dry we are the best.

“If we deserved to win the race we would – it was a difficult race for us. I am happy to finish on the podium.

“I guess it worked out okay. Obviously I am disappointed not to have won the race because we dominated the whole weekend in terms of pace.

“I had quite a good amount of fuel in qualifying so everything went fantastically well but it didn’t play into our hands in the race.”

Barrichello was leading the race when he made his pit stop but his difficulties on dry Bridgestone tyres saw him drop to sixth and left him out of the hunt for victory.

“It was hard on slicks because the car was all over the place and we lost a great deal of time at the beginning,” he added.

“The conditions were quite difficult. They were telling me to come to the pits for dry tyres and it was a bit difficult.

“I don’t think we have a good pace in a damp situation, we seem to struggle.

“Everyone who had a Michelin seemed to have the pace and we took some time before we were going fast and that’s where I lost the race.

“I couldn’t have done anything better. I feel very proud of the whole team and what we have done.”

Barrichello looked a forlorn figure as he slumped on the podium in front of his adoring fans, who had chanted his name into the night after qualifying yesterday.

The Sao Paulo-born driver admitted the tension of his home race, as well as the unique strain caused by Interlagos being anti-clockwise, had taken their toll.

“With the whole week, the stress and everything, I feel very tired,” he said. “I want to thank the whole team and the whole public who came to see me. I was shattered on the podium because the stress of the whole weekend and the neck, I had to sit down a little bit.

“I can go out of here with my head held high. It’s been a good season, I wish I could have won the race that’s all.”