Filipe Massa replaces Barichello at Ferrari in 06
 

http://www.planetf1.com/news/story_20564.shtml

Personally, I think Barichello is making a big mistake leaving Ferarri.

Where is Barrichello going? Toyota? BAR?

I don't know if that'll really be a step in the right direction... but congrats to Massa. Hopefully he'll do well over there.

Well, he is a race car driver. People with egos that big naturally chafe at being forced to play second fiddle to someone else. He probably just couldn't take it anymore.

Rumours are that he might go to BAR to replace Sato, who looks like he is done in F1.

You mean, to replace Mr. "DNF-DNF-DNF-12th-DQ-DQ-DNF-DNF-DNF..."

I understand what you're saying ... but it seems crazy to me to leave because he's sick of being number 2. It implies that the reason he was number 2 is due to some management decision or something, when in reality it was because he wasn't fast enough to beat MS.

If he goes somewhere else he may end up being paired with a slower driver, so that he can be #1 in the team ... but will he be better or worse off in the overall standings? Ferrari are sucking right now, but with all new cars and rules next year they could easily be on top again, especially with all the time and money they have sunk into research for next year.

Lucky #4! :rolleyes:

No matter how much teams will deny it, there really is a #1 and #2 driver. The #1 *does* get the better end of the deal. When one guy is ahead in the points, if there is a discrepency between anything, the leader gets the better end of the stick. Just look at something like pit stops... who always ends up pitting first? Barichello... meanwhile MS get an extra lap or two on lighter fuel.

Then, as Austin mentioned, there's the ego side of things. I'd much rather say, "Yeah, I'm the #1 driver for BAR/Honda" instead of "I drive the #2 Ferrari". That counts in public perception, and public perception counts 100% when it comes to commercial deals.

I use to say "Do you want to be a tiger tail or Dog head"

"It's pretty much my favorite animal."

When you're leading a race and actually ordered to slow down and pull over to let your teammate ahead of you so he can win & score the maximum points, that's gotta sting. I'm not even a pro driver, and I know that would piss me off.

Well, Ferrari would pay a pretty hefty fine for that these days, since they explicitly made a "no team orders" rule two(?) seasons ago specifically because of that incident.

However, it's obvious what Ferrari thinks about MS vs. RB.

All valid points, but how often has that happened to Barichello this year? I think he can only blame his driving for his results this season.

I wasn't implying that he's actually being "kept down" by Ferrari... I'm just explaining why he might feel that way.

Also, a change of pace, and a new team may be just what he needs to really shine. Driving for BAR might actually make him a better driver because he'll be in a better place mentally.

...not to mention Ferrari's issues this season (although I attribute 99% of their issues to the Bridgestone tires).