Barrichello's future with Honda

By Phil Huff
November 5 2007

Despite having a firm contract for 2008, Rubens Barrichello's seat at Honda Racing F1 appears to be under threat, with sources inside Honda Racing F1 confirming that 'anything could happen'. With Fernando Alonso's exit from McLaren, there's likely to be a very late shuffle in the driver market, with even contracted drivers available for sale to free up seats for more desirable drivers.

While Honda aren't targeting Alonso himself, the team are sitting back and seeing who becomes available in the fallout from the Spaniard's move.

British magazine F1 Racing go further, claiming that the Brazilian could be heading to satellite team Super Aguri for 2008. However, with Takuma Sato in place and unlikely to be removed, and Anthony Davidson performing well, it's unclear how he'd fit in, unless Davidson was to return to Honda, alongside Jenson Button.

"Many F1 insiders now feel that, like fellow veterans Alex Wurz, Ralf Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella, Rubens has passed his sell-by date," reports F1 Racing. "What's new is that many Honda insiders now feel the same way.

"There is a growing faction within Honda that favours relegating Barrichello to Super Aguri for 2008. Crucially, Rubens no longer has the support within Honda of his friend and countryman Gil de Ferran, who resigned as sporting director in July of this year. Why else, pray, was the Interlagos paddock awash with rumours that Fry was actively re-engaging in the '08 driver market?"