RUBENS
(...) People thought I was being stubborn, the fact was that I HAD to be stubborn and make a fuss about it (Austria), otherwise I'd be another Eddie Irvine.The race in Austria showed how the F1 world works.And the worse part is that there is nothing written on my contract about this or that.
JOURNALIST
Remember a few years back you also let Schumacher through.You were running in 2nd place, Schumacher was 3rd and you let him through.
RUBENS
Yes I do.And at the time I had a meeting with the team and they ASSURED me that if the fight was for the lead that they wouldn't ask me to let him through
JOURNALIST
Let me get this straight.You were fastest all weekend long,you were on pole,you recorded the fastest lap.We were on race 6 of the championship,therefore it had no real importance in the championship maths at that stage.
RUBENS
Exactely,the point difference was 44 to 6.
JOURNALIST
I thought to myself during the race "Hmmm,considering that they asked Rubens to move aside last year I bet that they won't ask him to do that again,especially when he is leading"...Guess again!
RUBENS
After that,people came to me and said "Wow it was really nice of you to give up that race win,especially in the way you did, etc etc...What most people don't know is that it was an 8 lap fight...I went to the final corner of the last lap with my mind made up,and that I wasn't going to ease back.
JOURNALIST
Then why did you?
RUBENS
I don't know.Honestly,someday I'll write a book on the subject!
JOURNALIST
So,how do you feel inside the team?Do you think it's the end of the line for you at Ferrari?
RUBENS
No question about it.I don't have anything to progress to.I'm sidelined.
JOURNALIST
So, can you be "fired" for the next race?
RUBENS
Theoretically speaking, on paper, no I couldn't.
JOURNALIST
So,you will leave the team at the end of the year?Because if you can't be fired on paper,you could spend the rest of the season just going to the races,enjoying the life in the paddock and whatnot.They would still pay you.
RUBENS
Yes I could.But it's just one of those things,I didn't know what to do.At that time (the time he had to decide to comply with the team's request or not), there was only me, God, and my judgement of what to do,going at over 300kph.And I was thinking "What am I going to do?"
I didn't have a phone to ring my father and ask for advice, I didn't have my wife to ask for her opinion on the subject, I had nothing!
JOURNALIST
Did you confront the team with this situation?Did you ask them why they had asked you to allow Schumacher to win?
RUBENS
Yes I did.I said "listen,why did this happen,especially when last year you assured me that this would never happen?"
It was a very difficult,awkward and tough moment.
Afterwards people were all like "I wouldn't have let him past!!!", but...
Long story short, looking back at these last couple of years...
JOURNALIST
Sorry to interrupt but you didn't answer us about what was the team's answer when you confronted them with the situation
RUBENS
I was pretty pissed off,naturally.It was an awkward situation because everybody knew this situation was like a time bomb.And what I had to face was the decision to explode or to leave the room.
JOURNALIST
But was it with anyone in particular?Ross Brawn or Jean Todt?
RUBENS
With everyone!
JOURNALIST
Next thing you knew it you would have Luca di Montezemolo on the phone!
RUBENS
But seriously what I find just not understandable is that I have the winners trophy at home, the team paid me like I had won the race...But that moment showed to the world that it was personal.It helped people to open their eyes.
The translation is mine, and portuguese is my mother language.Although the brazilian accent and vocabulary is a bit different from the classic portuguese,therefore it might be incorrect in what one or two words are concerned but the true meaning of the answers and questions is here.
Hope I helped!
