At Hockenheim, it's impossible not to remember Barrichello's magical moment

Standing on the podium, sobbing uncontrollably into the green and yellow Brazilian flag clutched in his hand, emotions pent-up over several seasons of racing let loose: it’s been fourteen years since those scenes were played out, but for Rubens Barrichello… Hockenheim remains an emotional place. It was the scene of his maiden win, after all, the final validation if any were needed that, here was a top-class Grand Prix driver. He had finally joined that select group of drivers who had won a Grand Prix and, more than that, had joined an even more elite club who had won for Ferrari. He had also become the first Brazilian since Ayrton Senna in Adelaide 1993 to stand on the top step of the podium. [caption id=“attachment_1626659” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Rubens Barichello celebrates his win in Germany 14 years ago. Reuters[/caption] It was a win that was a long time coming. Having made his debut in 1993, Barrichello had spent seven seasons driving middling machinery for the Jordan and Stewart teams. While they were certainly solid midfield teams who, on their day and in the right circumstances, were capable of sneaking in a win, they had never really produced consistently race-winning cars. “I did four years for Jordan, three years for Stewart…,” Barrichello said in the Hockenheim paddock, in a rushed conversation in between his commitments with Brazilian television. “So after seven years without winning a race it was very difficult but I didn’t have the cars,” he added. At that point, no other driver had waited longer for that first win and when the call came from Ferrari, the extremely talented but under-rated Brazilian knew he had finally hit the big time and had to deliver on his ability. He acquitted himself well in his first half-season with Ferrari as he got used to life at Formula One’s most historic team alongside then double world champion Michael Schumacher. And when he arrived in Hockenheim for the eleventh race of the season, Barrichello had scored six podiums and finished no lower than fourth. But that first win had still not come and appeared all the more elusive that weekend at Hockenheim after a disastrous qualifying. “I’ve always enjoyed Hockenheim but the weekend didn’t start very well because I had a problem in qualifying,” Barrichello said. “I started eighteenth so it was one of those days that you say, ‘Oh my god, I want to maybe finish top five tomorrow and go home’”. Clearly Barrichello didn’t expect to win, and though the circuit back then, with its long straights broken only by chicanes, was much easier – if more daunting – to overtake on than the layout used today, even the top-five finish he was targeting seemed a big ask. But Barrichello got a blinding start and by the end of the first lap had slipstreamed his way up to tenth. He was, of course the sole Ferrari in the race as Michael Schumacher, starting second alongside pole-sitter David Coulthard, had spun off into the barriers at the first corner after contact with Benetton’s Giancarlo Fisichella. With Ferrari’s hopes pinned on him, Barrichello continued to steadily rise through the field until on lap 15 he overtook Jarno Trulli for third. He then set off in pursuit of the leading McLarens of Mika Hakkinen and David Couldthard who had been pulling away at the front and had built a sizeable 14 second cushion over the rest of the field. That margin had widened to over half a minute after Barrichello made the first of his two stops. The McLarens appeared to be on a one stop strategy and with enough of a gap to make their stops and still retain the lead, the most Barrichello could hope for was third. But then came the pivotal moment that turned the race on its head and handed Barrichello a shot at the win. A disgruntled Mercedes employee had cut through the catch fencing lining the circuit and was running full-pelt down one of the straights waving a banner. The madman then dashed across the track and race officials had no choice but to deploy the safety car. Hakkinen’s hard won lead evaporated under the safety-car and, though he was third behind Jarno Trulli’s Jordan, Barrichello now had a real chance at challenging Hakkinen for the win. “When I was third, there were the two McLarens going flat out so I had to keep on going and I knew I had two stops,” Barrichello said. “But with the safety car I knew as well that I would have a chance because I had newer tyres and they didn’t so I was ready to go for it.” Moments after the race resumed the safety car was back out on track thanks to a collision between Pedro Diniz and Jean Alesi, and once it came in again, with only ten laps to go, the heavens opened and the rain began to fall. Hockenheim back then was a long circuit. Over six-and-a-half kilometers in length, it was not uncommon for heavy rain to fall in certain parts of the circuit while leaving other sections of track bone dry. And so the drivers were thrown into a dilemma: do they stay out on dry weather tyres and risk going off on the wet sections of the track, or do they play it safe and pit for wets? Hakkinen decided to pit while Barrichello chose to risk it and stay out. Quicker than Hakkinen in the dry sections of the track with the Finn having to drive slow so as not to overheat his wet weather tyres, Barrichello masterfully threaded his way through the wet stadium section where Hakkinen was quicker. Eventually, he crossed the line a full seven-and-a-half seconds ahead of the McLaren to finally score his first career win after 123 starts. It was certainly one of the most memorable wins in Formula One but also one of the sport’s most popular with the entire paddock cheering on the well-liked Brazilian. It was a feat even Schumacher, a wet-weather master himself, had to admire and the German duly made his way to the pitwall to acknowledge his team-mate’s effort as he crossed the line. “It was a relief, obviously,” Barrichello recalled. “Eventually it happened with Ferrari and I was very happy. “Especially because I was a Brazilian speaking Italian on the team. So they loved me for that and the driving and the way that I was setting up the car was helping the whole team so it was very good. “The atmosphere was fantastic.”