A word to the wise…

Rubens Barrichello is one man who knows all about the pressures of racing for Ferrari alongside one of the best drivers of your generation. Having made his name at Jordan and Stewart, Barrichello replaced Eddie Irvine as Michael Schumacher’s team-mate in 2000. Rubens won nine races in six seasons with the Scuderia, and it’s fair to say he found the whole experience tough going. He advises newcomer Carlos Sainz that mental stability is the key to surviving perhaps the toughest driving gig in F1. “He’s mentally prepared and he’s physically prepared, but he needs to control his anxiety,” Barrichello says. “He’s going to be anxious to get going. My suggestion is for him to do stuff that can control his mind. Meditation was key for me, to keep my anxiety low. That’s what I would suggest. When you work on the future, it makes you anxious.” Rubens also feels the fact Sainz has confirmed his Ferrari future before even starting his final season with Mclaren will create added challenges for Carlos in 2020, as Mclaren begins the process of preparing for its own future without him. “I find it crazy that you already announce what is your future plan is, and then you still have a year to go,” Barrichello adds. “It’s kind of tough for the mind management. It’s really tough for you to be where you feel like you don’t belong anymore.”

Interview by Josh Suttill