Barrichello signs with BAR Honda
However, according to Massa, that doesn’t mean he’s joining Ferrari – in fact he doesn’t where he’ll be in 2006. "I don’t know and to be honest (the speculation) is not true," he said. "At the moment we don’t know where I am going to race next year. Maybe I can even stay at Sauber, maybe I can leave."
"At the moment it is too early to say. I am a bit surprised to hear that Peter said that. I don’t think he said it because it is not the right thing to say as I am still talking with BMW."
08/01/05 According to a report in The Guardian, the Brazilian 'has been released from the balance of his contract with Ferrari and is poised to sign to drive for BAR-Honda for the next two seasons.' 'Formal confirmation of the deal, which will see Barrichello's fellow Brazilian Felipe Massa inherit his position in the Ferrari team, is expected this week,' the paper adds. 07/31/05 This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. Barrichello is going to leave Ferrari at the end of the 2005 F-1 season. The driver confirmed the transfer from Ferrari to BAR Honda, to Rede Globo in Brazil. The contract is for two years, with possibilities of an extension for another year.
At BAR Honda, where he will be replacing Englishman Jenson Button, who has a contractual agreement with Williams, Barrichello believes he will be in a position where he can fight for the F-1 Championship which he dreams of one day claiming.
With 13 years of experience in Formula 1, Barrichello has raced for Ferrari since 2000. In five and a half years, he has driven 97 races and won 9 for the Ferrari. But he has always been considered, though not officially, Ferrari's second driver behind Michael Schumacher.
After years of a relationship of ups and downs with the German, the Brazilian became very irritated this season with the attitude of his teammate and has now made the decision to leave the team.
The transfer to BAR was made possible by BAR's Sports Director, ex-race car driver Gil de Ferran, who is Barrichello's childhood friend.
Now Ferrari will have to move fast to confirm a second driver for next season. Two names being mentioned are Felipe Massa and David Coulthard.
07/30/05 Rubens Barrichello has been tipped for a move to BAR Honda after compatriot and former World Champion Nelson Piquet claimed the Ferrari driver has already inked a deal for next season.
Barrichello is contracted to Ferrari until the end of 2006 but rumors here in the Hungaroring paddock suggest he has been granted a release from his current deal and negotiated a move to last year's championship runners-up.
A breakdown earlier this year in relations between Barrichello and team-mate Michael Schumacher, to whom he has taken second best since he joined in 2000, started rumors that the 32-year-old was seeking an exit from the team. But only two days ago Barrichello denied that he is planning a move when, asked if he would be racing for Ferrari in 2006, he said: "Yeah, I have a contract for 2006 and I have nothing else to say."
BAR are unsure of their line-up for next season having seen Williams lay claim to lead driver Jenson Button after the Honda-powered team failed to meet the performance clause required to keep him. They are hoping to retain him for next season but Williams are determined to fight for him because they claim that sponsorship contracts have been agreed based on his racing for them in 2006.
If Barrichello has agreed a move it will open the door for a driver merry-go-round with Felipe Massa, long courted by Ferrari and a former test driver for them, tipped to leave Sauber and move to the Italian team. Source AFP
07/30/05 With Button forced to move to Williams in 2006 due to a prior contract commitment, rumors in Hungary suggest that Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello has signed to drive for BAR Honda in 2006. If true it will be interesting to see if Massa fills the open seat at Ferrari as rumored.