69th, Barrichello's Silverstone Surge: Ferrari Ace Triumphs Amidst Chaos
Two God-fearing men, one in a saffron skirt and the other in a Day-glo Ferrari, grabbed the headlines at Silverstone. The first, a former priest, scared the Bejaysus out of the drivers he ran towards on the Hangar Straight.
Cornelius ‘Neil’ Horan was clearly unhinged, the end of his world not for him quite nigh enough. Yet many found Rubens Barrichello’s reasoning difficult to fathom, too.
The Brazilian had chosen to swim against the tide when he entered the temple of the Scuderia’s ‘Chosen One’ in 2000. Criticised for passivity, he was under extra pressure at Silverstone because of a lacklustre first half of the season. He had, however, kept faith in his ability – and was swearing by a new, harder Bridgestone of a construction different to that selected by team-mate Michael Schumacher.
Barrichello was terse rather than his usual accommodating, cheery self. He’d had enough of the sniping. Beaten from pole by the Renault of Jarno Trulli and Kimi Räikkönen’s McLaren, on lap 11 he secured second place with an inventive and muscular pass of the latter.