Rubens Barrichello could be struggling with F1’s ever-sophisticated steering wheels, an insider has suggested.
As the record-setting veteran began his 18th consecutive season two weeks ago in Melbourne, Barrichello oddly drove onto the grass and spun out of qualifying, and was penalised in the race for crashing into Nico Rosberg.
With many drivers complaining about the unprecedentedly high cockpit workload due to DRS and KERS systems, the insider indicated that modern F1 may have overtaken the 38-year-old Brazilian.
"Barrichello even had trouble with the multi-function steering wheel he had at Ferrari, and compared to a modern wheel that’s like the Kreisliga (Germany’s 9th-tier football league) versus the Champions League," the unnamed insider is quoted by Speed Week.
Meanwhile, double world champion of the late 90s, Mika Hakkinen, was asked by the Indian newspaper Mint if he would consider following his old nemesis Michael Schumacher back into F1.
"I would be racing against guys who are 20 years old and I am 42. I know I cannot take the time back and be young again. You have to be realistic," said the Finn.
"These guys are a different generation. Their mind is developed differently. I don’t want to lose what I have got," added Hakkinen.