NEXT RACE - 25th May

Barrichello: I still love F1

Wednesday 7th May 2008

Rubens Barrichello concedes his love affair with Formula One has never wavered over the years despite many ups and downs.

On Sunday, when Barrichello lines up on the grid for the Turkish Grand Prix, he will become the most experienced driver to compete in Formula One.

The race will be the 257th of the Brazilian's career that started in South Africa in March 1993 with Jordan, surpassing the 256-race record set by Riccardo Patrese at the end of that year.

For some historians, Barrichello's marque is a contentious issue as he did not technically compete in the 2002 Spanish and French Grands Prix when he was with Ferrari.

The 35-year-old suffered a gearbox failure before the warm-up lap in Barcelona, and an ignition system problem in Magny Cours at the start of the warm-up lap.

But for the purposes of simplicity, Barrichello and current team Honda have agreed to celebrate his achievement this weekend in Istanbul.

"My first race, at Kyalami, seems like only yesterday," reflected Barrichello, currently enduring the worst drought of his 16 years in Formula One as it is now 21 races without scoring a point.

"I'll never forget sitting in my Jordan 193 at the start of qualifying, looking at the TV monitor in the pits.

"For a moment, it felt as though I was sitting at home on the sofa!

"Since then there have been ups and downs, and I must thank my family and friends for their unwavering support.

"I was lucky enough to start my career in F1 at a young age, and I love driving and racing as much as ever. Importantly, I still love Formula One.

"I feel happier when I'm in the F1 paddock, preparing for a race, than almost anywhere else."

Barrichello, if given the opportunity with Honda, has no intention of calling it a day as he feels he still has a lot to give.

"Becoming the most experienced Formula One driver ever means a great deal to me," added Barrichello.

"I've had a long career and I have so many wonderful memories, but I don't feel any different today to the day when I started out on this journey in 1993.

"Whilst people will look back at my 16-year career in Turkey, I'm still looking forward.

"These are exciting times for the Honda Racing F1 Team because we're developing rapidly as a team, and the next race is the one that matters most."

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