Barrichello backs rival Senna

Rubens Barrichello is convinced Bruno Senna has a future in Formula One, despite denying his fellow Brazilian a drive this year.

When it came to the crunch, Barrichello’s experience held sway over rookie Senna for the second race seat at the newly-formed Brawn GP.

The 35-year-old, who now heads into his 18th season, was today at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya to watch the new car produce an impressive showing on its maiden outing.

With Jenson Button at the wheel, the Briton finished the day fourth fastest overall of the 10 drivers on show, eight tenths of a second behind BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld.

Barrichello will get his chance tomorrow to sample the car that has risen from the ashes of Honda Racing, who pulled out of the sport in early December citing the global credit crisis.

Although happy to still be involved, Barrichello feels for Senna as he was long touted as the man who would get his F1 chance, notably following a successful test last November.

Barrichello has admitted to trying to contact 25-year-old Senna, nephew of the late three-time champion Ayrton, but without much success so far.

“I left a message on his answering machine,” confirmed Barrichello, who will extend his F1 record this year of 267 starts.

“We’re good friends. Although we haven’t talked for the past couple of months because we’ve been fighting for a position, it has nothing to do with us.

“It’s sheer coincidence we ended up at the same place at the same time, but I wish him all the very best.

“For someone who has three or four years of experience, he has done fantastically well, and he has a future in Formula One.

“I haven’t seen anyone just yet with the capability of running for three years in cars, and all of a sudden getting to Formula One and doing so well like he did in testing.

“I’m just lucky at this stage Formula One has changed a little, and because of the lack of testing, it comes down to more experienced driving again.”

Barrichello insists he always felt deep down he would still be in F1 this season, despite all the rumours suggesting he had competed in his last race.

“I’m delighted to be here,” smiled Barrichello.

“But then I didn’t feel Interlagos (Brazilian Grand Prix last year) was my last race. Something told me it wasn’t.

“So I spent three months of being patient, losing weight, just staying calm, talking to the team instead of other people.

“So I kept silent and it worked perfectly, and now I’m so glad I’m going to drive the car tomorrow.”