Barrichello Still On Hold

With the title fight for 2008 over, paddock talk will most likely transfer to lineup-related rumors for the upcoming week. Honda, for example, have a choice to make concerning F1 veteran Rubens Barrichello. While still holding the door for the unlikely signing of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, Honda have admitted that they're also looking at the possibility to bring some fresh blood into the Great Circle for 2009.

“We want to look at some new guys. think it is important that we bring some fresh blood into F1. There are some good guys out there and we want to try them out. It doesn't mean we have definitely decided to go that route but we want to evaluate all the options open to us - and we will only be testing people who have not got great experience in an F1 car.”

“There are candidates who have been in F1, as indeed have our current drivers, but we know what they are like and the important thing is to take a look at people we don't know so well. With the Barcelona test from November 17-19, maybe we can come to a decision by the end of the month. I don't really see a pressing reason to come to a decision before that. We have to make the right decision not the quick decision,” said Honda's CEO Nick Fry in an interview for autosport.com site.

GP2 runner-up and nephew of 3-time world champion Ayrton Senna, Bruno, was already confirmed as testing for the Japanese manufacturer less than 3 weeks from now, in Spain. Several rumors about Senna's debuting alongside Jenson Button next year have circulated within the F1 paddock in the last few weeks, with Brazilian oil company Petrobras allegedly ready to pump a considerable amount of money for some fresh Brazilian blood into F1 starting next year.

The two drivers tipped to benefit from such a move from Petrobras are Bruno Senna and Nelsinho Piquet – the latter would be considered in case Renault won't offer him an extension for 2009. Nevertheless, nothing is 100% sure now and Barrichello is still very much alive in the fight to secure a racing seat for next year. At least that's what Fry insisted upon after the Interlagos race.

“Rubens is 100 percent aware of the situation. He has been for some time. He knows he is in with a chance but he knows we want to evaluate other people as well, so I think he has been very grown up about it,” added Fry.

Barrichello is likely to step into the North-American IndyCar Series next season – if not confirmed with Honda – as he is already scheduled to test a Honda-powered Penske car at the Homestead-Miami track later this year.