Despite the constant quarreling with the team through the first half of the 2009 season, Barrichello insisted that he would have probably stayed at Brackley had he had the feeling that he's wanted there. However, no matter his or Button's feelings towards a potential stay at Brawn, the Brazilian thinks Ross Brawn should have fought equally to keep both drivers for the 2010 season.
“Honestly, if I was the owner of the team I would have fought to keep both (2009) drivers because of the work that was done during the season,” said Barrichello, while doing Felipe Massa's charity karting event at Florianopolis, according to Spain's Diario AS.
Jenson Button won 6 races and eventually clinched the world title at the end of the 2009 campaign, while Barrichello scored 2 wins of his own for 3rd place overall. Also, Brawn won the constructors' title in their very first year of existence – under the new management – by almost 20 points to closest rivals Red Bull Racing.
As revealed by Barrichello, as soon as he found out about Williams F1's offer – and considering the poor relationship he started having with the staff back at Brackley – he took it immediately. As it turned out, he always wanted to drive for Frank Williams, just like his all-time hero Ayrton Senna.
“My decision was taken very early. It has been my childhood dream to race a Williams and for that reason I signed the contract quickly,” said Barrichello, who also admitted that Button's decision to leave Brawn for a place at McLaren Merceded came as a “big surprise” for him.
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