by Russell Atkins
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Ahead of the season in which he is set to become the most experienced driver in Formula 1 history,
Rubens Barrichello has insisted he has no intention of walking away from the sport he loves so much, and predicts a return to podium-challenging form for Honda in 2008.
The Brazilian has begun a staggering 249 races in the top flight – second only to Riccardo Patrese on 256 – and he will overtake the Italian's record at Magny-Cours in June. He knows it will be a special moment when it arrives, but in the meantime he is more firmly focussed on the development of
Honda's new RA108, the car on which the Japanese manufacturer has pinned its hopes as the antidote to a painful 2007 campaign – the first in Barrichello's 15-year career in grand prix circles during which he has failed to score so much as a single point.
“I'm very proud,” the 35-year-old admitted, speaking exclusively to
Crash.net Radio on the subject of his impending record-breaking achievement, “though it's something I've never thought about before. I remember Patrese racing for such a long time, and I'm pleased to have been able to race against him when I came into
Formula 1. He's such a lovely guy as well.
“I'm very much looking forward to [the 2008 season]. It's like any other year where you're trying to see your car on the podium or winning races, but at the moment it's all just talking. [2007] was tough, but it appeared tougher on the outside – in terms of what newspapers or magazines would write – than it in reality was.
“Deep inside I feel the team has had a great restructure. The car is 100 per cent different, we are well-based with [new team principal] Ross Brawn, we have good guys in the wind tunnel and I think the bad phases of last year taught us a lot.
