Rumours from America

April 24, 2008

GrandPrix.com is reporting that the American racing media is getting excited about the possibility that Rubens Barrichello may move to Andretti Green Racing in 2009, and that his place at Honda Racing F1 would be handed over to Marco Andretti.

There is no doubt that Barrichello would be a useful recruit for the US team. It would help that Rubens is a close friend of team member Tony Kanaan. The two have in the past worn one another’s helmet designs in races and are also partners in the Instituto Barrichello Kanaan, a charity organisation. They are very close.

Barrichello will this weekend equal Riccardo Patrese’s record as the F1 driver with the longest career. It is safe to say that his chances of continuing in F1 in the longer term are slim. Going to America makes a lot of sense. With the support of Honda such a deal is possible.

However the rumours about Andretti switching to Formula 1 do not add up for a number of reasons. The 21-year-old has tested for the Honda F1 team twice in the past, but according to our sources he has not made a huge impression. He has won only one IRL race – at Sears Point back in 2006 – and while he has come close on other occasions, he has yet to establish himself as a star who might be able to translate US success on to the international scene.

Posted in Honda