Barrichello could have stayed at Ferrari?
Ferrari president, Luca di Montezemolo has hinted that Rubens Barrichello could have stayed on with the Scuderia at the end of this season, had he chosen to do so.
Ferrari confirmed on Tuesday that Barrichello would be leaving the team at the end of 2005, with Felipe Massa being drafted in to fill the void. Barrichello joined Ferrari back in 2000 however he has becoming increasingly disillusioned of late with the teams bias towards number one driver, Michael Schumacher - it is believed that he will now join BAR-Honda in 2006.
Ferrari president, Luca di Montezemolo has hinted that Rubens Barrichello could have stayed on with the Scuderia at the end of this season, had he chosen to do so.
Ferrari confirmed on Tuesday that Barrichello would be leaving the team at the end of 2005, with Felipe Massa being drafted in to fill the void. Barrichello joined Ferrari back in 2000 however he has becoming increasingly disillusioned of late with the teams bias towards number one driver, Michael Schumacher - it is believed that he will now join BAR-Honda in 2006.
"We gave Rubens Barrichello the possibility of accepting an offer of a multi-year contract, longer therefore than the length of his relationship with us while we also had the possibility of exercising an existing option in the contract we have with Felipe Massa, a young driver who nevertheless already has sufficient experience and whom we had already targeted as far back as 2001," stated Montezemolo.
"I wish to thank Rubens for his contribution over the past few years, which, to date, has helped us to win five Constructors' Championships.
"From him, from everyone at Ferrari and from our technical partners, first and foremost Bridgestone, I am expecting maximum concentration and effort to get back to winning ways before the end of this season."
