Thursday March 9th, 2000

A new chapter in the career of Rubens Barrichello opens in Australia this weekend when the Brazilian fulfils a childhood dream and starts his first race for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro.

After seven years in F1 with Jordan and then Stewart Rubens has finally found a berth in a team which will give him the chance to run regularly at the front of the field. Rubens has dreamed of such a move for years, and it might have happened a lot sooner.

"We talked every other year, you know," he admits. "I talked to them in '95, and we never lost contact. I think after the good first two or three first races that I had last year, it was like, 'Wow, Rubens is in a competitive car and he's doing a better job,' so then we started to talk seriously.

"It's definitely the biggest dream of everyone to drive for Ferrari. On top of that I must say I went for a competitive car. The last 10 years Ferrari made nine good cars, and having Schumacher there, the chances of making it right is even higher."

The team has made it clear that Rubens will have a fair chance to take on his new team mate, despite the general perception that the team bases its effort on Michael. Barrichello is adamant that if he is quick enough, team orders won't be an issue, and the two men an enjoy a fair fight.

"It all depends on my driving, it's all on me. You ask me if I had a clause in my contract with Stewart saying that I had to follow instructions, I did, and I think everyone does. That's the same with Ferrari. If I'm in front and by chance Schumacher is behind and is coming faster and he has a chance to win the race, I don't need any instructions to let him by. But on the other hand if the other guy, who is me, is coming faster - I'm sure it's going to be a surprise, and I hope it will be - it's in the best interests of Ferrari that both drivers have a chance to win."

Rubens is realistic; he knows it won't be easy facing up to the greatest driver of the era.

"Seriously, it would be arrogant for me to go to Ferrari and say, Look, I want number one status, I want the same thing as Schumacher, and blah, blah, blah. It would be too rude, and I'm sure they would say who do you think you are? If I have the same equipment, which is the case, if I have the same testing, which is the case, I hope I can surprise.

"When I came into Jordan, I was number two. When I went to Stewart I was number one, but Jan Magnussen was the next Senna, and made my place again. I just want to have the opportunity to do what I know. I don't want to go into politics. I'm sure if I'm doing fantastically well in the race, and the team has the chance to win the race, I don't see the team asking me to switch place."

Life is bound to change for 27-year-old Rubens this season. As the top Brazilian driver of the past few years, he is used to being under pressure, as his countrymen are hungry for success. But Ferrari will be a different story. Anyone who drives for the team becomes a major celebrity in Italy and worldwide, and the attention is relentless. He will experience a whole new level of fame.

"In F1 as much as you can you like to have your privacy with the things that you do. But I I will try just to be me. I will try to be the same with everyone, I will try to have time for everyone, I'll try to do whatever I did this last seven years. I won't change on that. I don't want to hide because I'm a Ferrari driver."