By Phil Huff
July 30 2005

Rubens Barrichello has signed to drive for BAR Honda, at least according to fellow Brazilian, and Honda powered World Champion, Nelson Piquet. Piquet told Brazilian newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo "You can write it down. Rubens has signed with BAR for two years. I'm well-connected."


Jenson Button leads Rubens Barrichello in last months British Grand Prix.

With Jenson Button's future still to be decided, BAR Honda have been looking at their options, and Barrichello was high on the list of possible replacements. BAR Honda's Sporting Director, Gil de Ferran, commented recently that "Rubinho is a driver capable of fighting for the championship, so obviously he’s of interest to us."

Should Jenson manage to retain his seat at BAR Honda, despite his Williams contract, then it would be Takuma Sato who would make way for Barrichello.

The Japanese driver, out of contract at the end of this season, is having a tough year, with Geoffrey Willis saying that "it is very important for the team’s aspirations that we have two drivers capable of getting in the points at every race, getting on the podium at every race, and I think this year has been a bit difficult for Takuma to be able to show that."