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The fourth-highest points scorer in F1 history, Rubens Barrichello begins his 18th season on the F1 grid with Williams in 2010. One of the most popular drivers on the F1 circuit, he has emerged from Michael Schumacher's shadow at Ferrari and in 2010 he will be looking to banish his reputation as F1's 'nearly man'.

Born within a stone's throw of the Interlagos track, Barrichello was born into a motor racing family, and was given his first kart at the age of six. In 1986 he was crowned South American karting champion, and just a year later he finished ninth in the world championships, sponsored by Ayrton Senna.

In 1989, aged 16, Barrichello graduated from karts to Formula Ford, before moving to England to pursue his dream to become an F1 driver. He claims he used his father's driving licence as he wasn't old enough to drive in the UK. He won the British Formula 3 championship in 1991, becoming the youngest racing driver to do so, a feat only beaten by Nelson Piquet Jnr in 2004.

Barrichello made his F1 debut with Jordan in 1993, and finished on the podium just 13 months later at the Pacific Grand Prix in Japan. He finished sixth in his second season, but it was marred by the death of his friend and mentor Senna at Italian Grand Prix, while he himself escaped a horrific accident in qualifying for the same race.

After three years at Jordan, Barrichello moved to Stewart Ford in 1997, where he scored three third-place finishes enough to secure him a move to Ferrari in 1999, where he was second driver to F1's most successful driver in history, Michael Schumacher. In 2000, after seven seasons in F1, Barrichello secured his first race victory at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

In 2007, aged 33, Barrichello moved to Honda, and endured the worst season of his career, failing to score a single point, but remarkably finishing all but two races. At the 2008 Turkish Grand Prix in May 2008, Barrichello became the sport's most experienced driver, overtaking Riccardo Patrese's record of 257 F1 starts. In 2009, the Honda team, rescued at the 11th hour by Barrichello's former Ferrari boss Ross Brawn, became the first team to win the constructors championship in their inaugural season, and Barrichello's six podiums and two race victories helped him to third-place in the drivers' standings.

In November 2009 Williams announced that Barrichello would join their team for 2010 season alongside rookie driver Nico Hulkenberg. While Barrichello is the fourth-highest points scorer of all time, behind Schumacher, Alain Prost and Senna, the one race that still eludes him is the Brazilian Grand Prix in his home town of Sao Paolo. While Williams are unlikely to provide a car fast enough to see the veteran win his first world championship, a win in Interlagos would be a dream come true for one of the nicest men in motorsport.

Strengths and Weaknesses
Undoubtedly one of the most consistent drivers of all time, Barrichello has over 60 podium finishes and six hundred career points to his name. Forced to play second fiddle for much of his career, notably to Michael Schumacher at Ferrari and most recently Jenson Button at Brawn, Williams could be his chance to shine as number one.

Career High
On his 123rd race, at the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim, Rubens Barrichello won his first grand prix, after starting 18th on the grid. It was the first time the Brazilian national anthem had been played since Senna's final victory in Australian in 1993, Barrichello was clearly overwhelmed.

Career Low
Suffering a near-fatal collision in qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix in 1994. Barrichello hit a kerb at 140mph and his car launched into the air, rolled several times and he was knocked unconscious. After waking in hospital with a number of injuries, Senna was by his bedside. Barrichello never saw his mentor again, as the three-time world champion died on the same track two days later, he considered quitting the sport for good.

Quotes
"Michael [Schumacher] might have more skill than I had, but if you threw both of us into a jail with a tiger I might get out alive - I'm not sure about him." On former team-mate and rival Michael Schumacher.

"Whenever I get home after a race, we chat about what he thought of it. Once, after one of my toughest races, he asked me why I had gotten so angry at the podium if the podium is supposed to be a wonderful thing. After that comment, I promised him nothing would ever make me get angry when I got onto the podium again." On his son, Eduardo, born 2001.

Trivia
Barrichello's nickname is Rubinho, or little Rubens, as his father and grandfather are both called Rubens. He also shares his birthday, May 23 with his father.

Jo Carter November 2009