Barrichello: This record means a great deal to me. I’ve had a long career in Formula One and I have many wonderful memories, but I don’t feel any different today to the day when I started out on this journey in 1993.

My first race, at Kyalami, seems like yesterday. 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 to start my career in F1 at a young age – only 20 – so I’m still only 35. I love driving and racing as much as ever and, importantly, I still love Formula One. I feel happier when I’m in the F1 paddock, preparing for a race, than almost anywhere else.
While 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.

Jordan Grand Prix
“Eddie brought me into Formula One, and for that I will always be grateful. We had a lot of fun together and enjoyed some great results. “The biggest thing I learnt during my time there was how to develop a boy’s speed into a man’s speed. I arrived aged 20, when there was no pressure on me and everything came very naturally, and I learnt how to perform when a certain level of performance was expected.”
Rubens

“I’d seen Rubens race in Formula 3 and been very impressed by him. But it was only when
I got a call from Ayrton Senna, who told me what a great kid he was, that I thought seriously about signing him for ’93. “Rubens stayed with us for four years and drove some great races. His best race for us was probably Donington ’93, where he ran second for a long time, until we screwed up and he ran out of fuel. He might be the most experienced driver of all time, but I think he’s still young enough and enthusiastic enough to do the job. Good luck to him.”
Eddie Jordan, Team Owner

Stewart Grand Prix
“The switch from Jordan to Stewart was fantastic because it gave me the chance to start a new career at a very young age. “It also did my confidence a lot of good to have Jackie, a triple world champion, telling me that I was a good driver. The highlight of my time at Stewart was Monaco ’97, where I finished second in the  pouring rain. That was a very emotional result for everyone in the team.”
Rubens

“For our first year in F1 we wanted at least one of our drivers to have some experience of F1. We’d competed against Rubens as Paul Stewart Racing in Formula Opel, Formula 3 and Formula 3000 and we liked what we saw. “There are two unquestionable highlights of our time together: Monaco ’97, where he climbed from 10th to second and nobody dropped out ahead of him, and the European GP ’99, where Johnny Herbert and Rubens finished first and third. I’m not surprised that Rubens has become the most experienced driver of all time because he’s always been very consistent.” Jackie Stewart, Team Owner

Ferrari
“It was a dream come true to drive for Ferrari, and it was a very special moment to see my name written on the side of my car for the first time. “There were a lot of good people in the team and it was great to work with Michael Schumacher. He’s the best driver that I’ve ever met and he had just so much natural speed.
“My most memorable win for the team was my first, at Hockenheim in 2000, but I also look back and smile at my performances at Silverstone and Suzuka 2003. They were special.”
Rubens

“With Rubens I shared a nice time and lots of beautiful memories. We were team-mates for a long time – six seasons – in which we enjoyed a lot of success together, but most of all a lot of fun. I am sure he would say the same: we really had a good time, not only on-track but also off-track. Rubens is the perfect guy to party with, so I hope he does not wait too long to retire!”
Michael Schumacher

Honda Racing F1 Team
“When I arrived at Honda in 2006, they’d just had a couple of up and down years: a great year in ’04, then not such a good year in ’05. With that experience of how to do it, and how not to do it, I thought there would be no stopping us in ’06. “Of course Jenson won his and the team’s first race in Hungary, but it’s taken us until now to come good. We are doing our homework a lot better and we’re improving rapidly as a result. I’m very excited about the future.”
Rubens

“If you include our time together at Ferrari, I’ve known Rubens for quite a long time. He’s always been very perceptive about the car and able to contribute a lot to its development. He’s also a very consistent and determined driver. “At the end of last year, he expressed huge enthusiasm about the prospects of the Honda Racing F1 Team and he encouraged me to join. He’s still hugely passionate about motor racing and when you give him everything he needs, he can produce the goods. He doesn’t waste opportunities.”
Ross Brawn, Team Principal