Rubens remaining calm

Barrichello: Not feeling pressue

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Rubens Barrichello insists that he will not let the pressure get to him should he continue to catch Jenson Button in the Formula One world title race.

The Brazilian driver stalled on the grid at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, but recovered through the field to eventually finish seventh.

As Brawn GP team-mate Button crashed out on the first lap and did not score, Barrichello's championship deficit has now been reduced to 16 points.

But the 37-year-old veteran is adamant that he will not let the intense pressure of a championship battle effect his driving.

"It's positive my season has come alive. As for the pressure, it is something that you create in your own head," Barrichello said.

Lucky

"In a golf match, for example, if you play against somebody it could get into your head - but if you play against the golf course, it's easier.

"You just have to do your best, and that's what I'm doing. I did really well over the whole weekend, although I got lucky that I finished with two points with all the problems.

"On pure performance I should have finished on the podium when I knew my team-mate would struggle to finish in the points.

"I guess pressure will always exist, but I'm quite cool and I've been there and done that. It helps that I've been with a team such as Ferrari and I've seen what happens and lived through it.

"Looking at it, my chances are bigger here. The team cannot say they are going to support one driver over another, because Red Bull are right there as well. They have to support both, and I feel good about that."

Angry

Barrichello could have reduced the gap in the standings even further if not for his start-line blunder from fourth position on the grid.

Although the former Ferrari driver admitted the delay annoyed him at first, he says it was soon out of his mind as he had other problems to contend with.

"I had a little swear on the radio because of the start. Obviously, you're always annoyed when something like that happens," he added.

"But after it, I changed page and I had a good race - although I did think it was over when I saw the smoke towards the end.

"I just prayed everything I could in every language, and it worked out. I have to look at what happened as a positive that two points is better than nothing and better still when you think that two weeks ago I was 26 points behind and now I'm 16."