[Bumblebee86]

Following Brawn GP’s interesting change of tactics during the Spanish Grand Prix—which contributed to denying Rubens Barrichello his first win since 2004—the Brazilian was rather vocal in his disappointment. After the event he spoke to SpeedTV:

If I get the slightest sniff of the fact that they have favored Jenson, I will hang up my helmet tomorrow. But I know Ross [Brawn] wouldn’t do that. He asked me to drive for him and he knows I want to race fairly with Jenson.

Brawn was quick to retort in BBC:

We don't have a one and a two driver. They’re both on equal terms and conditions. Once he [Barrichello] got back and we talked things through he was fine. Rubens is a great team player. Everyone is working so well together and Rubens and Jenson recognize that. The fact we have such a great atmosphere drives us on and we don’t want to lose that. We’ve been completely honest with the drivers. They know the situation and their engineers know that—there’s no favoritism.





Back in 2001, Brawn was the technical director of a resurgent Ferrari, celebrating their first driver’s title since Jody Scheckter’s world championship in 1979. Brawn was a key element of the Ferrari team which included general manager Jean Todt, chassis designer Rory Byrne and drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello—the latter clearly treated as a “two driver”. They would go on to command F1 for the next four years, with Schumacher taking every world championship between 2000 and 2004.

At the time the interview was published, the level of sheer dominance they would demonstrate—where Schumacher would lock up championships in mid-summer—was not yet evindent. Their first balls-out year was 2002. The year when, during the Austrian Grand Prix, Rubens Barrichello would be ordered to slow down in the last lap (see video) to allow Schumacher to take victory—his fifth out of six races in a season where he would win 11 races out of 17 and stand on the podium every single time.





“We all kick bums inside the team, Michael included,” Brawn says. “But if he’s unhappy about something he’ll sit down with Jean [Todt, general manager] and me and tell us so. He’s not going to do it in public because he cares about the people here and he’s also intelligent enough to realise he will have more effect working internally than going to the press.
“As soon as people go to the press the others resent it. The last thing you want is a driver whingeing in the press. I’m surprised more drivers haven’t sussed that.”
Brawn and Todt have had to spell out that message to their other driver, Rubens Barrichello. The Brazilian has complained on a couple of occasions about the “favouritism” shown to Schumacher. The reality, as Barrichello will now appreciate, is that his team-mate is the best in the business and it makes competitive and commercial sense for the team to back him.

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[McLaren Rulez]

Oh my god, I can't help but think of captions for the second pic. Its almost begging for a caption
1) Jean Todt: Please Ross, change your glasses! I can't look at them without throwing up.
2) Ross Brawn wonders if his lower lip is edible.
3)Jean Todt imagines what it would be like if he were as tall as Michael

Haha but back on topic, I doubt if they're really favouring Button. I think Rubens is past his best and unable to keep pace with Button as seen in nearly every qualifying, race starts and the soft tyre stint at Monaco to name a few.

[Cyrus43]

What a Compilation!! BRAVO!!

[GTO]

Brawn showing favouritism??

Without a doubt, yes. Brawn pioneered the art of driver favouritism by choosing (along with Todt) only no.2 drivers for Schumacher (Irvine, Barri). The jury is out on whether a one-driver policy is good for the sport or not; however, without a doubt, it is good for the championship. If Mclaren had such a rule in place, they would have walked away with the championship in 2007 (and a lot of yesteryears). Brawn wants the championship at any cost, and Jenson has proven he's the man to get it home.

BTW Brawn GP's success just goes to show the substantial role that Brawn played in Schumacher's success! If he can make a Jenson win 6 / 7 races..........