Barrichello's Light Shining Brighter

Brazilians in general have a very ambivalent relationship with Rubens BarrichelloRubens Barrichello. Although he has been on the Formula One circuit for over fifteen years, many have been derisive about his talent, guts and commitment to victory. He has been scorned with the nickname “pé do chinelo” or sandal foot and considered a has-been and eternal second place finisher.

This may be about to change after he won his tenth victory of his career and maintains a credible shot at winning the championship. Many have long-championed Barrichello’s driving ability but his main misfortune was to have started his career in the shadow of Brazilian national hero Ayrton SennaAyrton Senna.

Senna’s many spectacular victories were capped off with him waving the Brazilian flag and thus boosting Brazilian confidence when the national football team was failing repeatedly at World Cups between 1974 and 1990. Although very private and not particularly personable, Senna nonetheless captured Brazil’s affection through his audacity and flamboyance on the track.

As is well known, Senna died in 1994 at the San Marino Grand Prix, causing the country to mourn deeply for a fallen hero. Barrichello, however, was extremely lucky to be alive since two days before the Senna tragedy, on the same track he himself was involved in a serious car crash.

Living in Senna’s and to some extent Nelson PiquetNelson Piquet’s shadow, Barrichello festered in mediocrity until signing with Ferrari in 2000 and was twice runner up to Michael SchumacherMichael Schumacher of Germany who won the championship a record seven times. A colorless character lacking charisma or any real charm, Schumacher nonetheless won respect for his consistency and ruthlessness. However, the opposite occurred with Rubinho, as he is known in Brazil. In certain races, he was forced by the Ferrari team to cede his lead to Schumacher, considered a humiliation here in Brazil, where his reputation as a has-been was quickly perpetuating itself.

The fortunes of Barrichello are now changing and he is posing a credible challenge to his team-mate Jenson ButtonJenson Button’s lead in the Championship. This has garnered him new respect among Brazilians, and should he become eventual champion, many of his former detractors will have to eat their words.

What is refreshing, however, is that one gets the feeling that while of course he would love to be crowned champion, he has enough outside interests that he will have a happy and productive life even if he doesn’t. This is in contrast to so many athletes so obsessed with winning that they forget what it’s like to be a normal human being.

Three cheers for Rubinho.