Barrichello will not let himself be distracted

Rubens Barrichello, during the traditional Thursday press conference, insisted that his negotiations for 2010 will not clutter his mind, and also downplayed Felipe Massa’s statements.

Barrichello arrives transformed for his home race. Twelve months ago, his future was more than uncertain with Honda’s withdrawal, but this year he is a title contender. Additionally, the chances of seeing Barrichello in a race seat next season and surpassing the 300 Grand Prix milestone are high, as he is currently in discussions with Williams and Brawn GP.

But Rubens Barrichello, who has never won in front of his home crowd, will not be distracted by the ongoing negotiations. His immediate goal remains to close the 14-point gap that separates him from Jenson Button, who has led the championship since the first race of this season. «I feel good. I remain focused on this season and I am proud to have turned things a bit in my favor since Silverstone and to have been able to extract more speed from the car.»

The Brazilian veteran remains focused on his title chances and asserts that he will use the positive energy provided by the support of his fans this weekend. “I am happy to be here. For me, it’s already a victory because I’ve had a good season and I have a chance to win this weekend.”

Rubens Barrichello also downplayed suggestions that his friend and compatriot Felipe Massa has not been the same man since his accident. “No, I don’t think so,” said the Brawn driver. “I think he is still the same man. After seeing him with my own eyes and seeing that he was still the same, I wish that he is able to drive like before. Since then, he went to Fiorano and did it. It appears, after discussing it with him and many others, that he had the pace after three laps.”

Rubens Barrichello also thinks that Massa’s apparent frankness stems from his absence from the circuits and the fact that the media are very interested in him because of his accident. “In Formula 1, when you no longer travel with everyone all the time and don’t hear what the same people are saying, you no longer think the same way, and your ideas become different,” he explains. “He has been absent for over a month, and everything he says becomes more important.”