Barrichello: Culture, language barrier Honda's downfall

Rubens Barrichello has suggested that a 'culture difference' and language barrier were the key elements separating Honda from success in Formula 1 in recent years - as he revealed his hopes that Brawn GP will turn out to be something of a hybrid of what he found at Ferrari and Stewart Grand Prix.

Honda was saved from F1 extinction by the recent management buy-out led by Ross Brawn, following the Japanese manufacturer's announcement back in December that it was withdrawing its official support with immediate effect.

The take-over not only rescued the 750-strong Brackley-based operation from collapse, but it also arguably prevented Barrichello's record-breaking career in the top flight from coming to an end, with Brawn - with whom the experienced Brazilian has worked closely at Ferrari and subsequently Honda for many years - electing to retain the 36-year-old in preference to taking a punt on 2008 GP2 Series runner-up Bruno Senna.

What's more, with the new, Mercedes-powered BGP001 having lapped impressively quickly and consistently in the hands of both Barrichello and team-mate Jenson Button during the major group test at Barcelona this week, the former is hopeful that his Indian summer may yet prove to be a highly successful one.

"Honda did brilliantly," he told British newspaper The Independent, "and I am sorry to see them go, but you have to say there is always a culture difference and a difficulty in the language, so it was tough.

"All I have wanted to see at the team is what I found at Ferrari; they were really good at winning together and losing together. The team is quite small now, so it could be like that - that is what I am looking forward to working on, and I am sure Ross is in the same boat. That is what makes a competitive Formula 1 team.

"Are we going to be like a small Stewart family? It might be - a smaller team working together, not going through too many people to get an answer. It might work in our favour."

The nine-time grand prix-winner also told Spanish newspaper El Mundo that he is sure F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is 'not sorry to see Rubens [at Brawn GP] and not Bruno', despite the Formula One Management chief executive having lobbied hard to secure Senna an break in the top flight and offered to aid the management buy-out financially should the young Brazilian have been signed up to the second seat.

"The silly thing is we have got Bruno wanting to drive," the 78-year-old had said. "It would be fantastic for everybody to have the name Senna back in Formula 1."

Barrichello, however, who was a pallbearer at the funeral of his mentor, Senna's uncle - the late, great three-time world champion Ayrton - conceded that his countryman would have been just as deserving a recipient of the drive, and has tipped the 25-year-old for an eventual F1 future nonetheless.

"I tried to ring him and have left a message on his answering machine," the S?o Paulista revealed. "Having the Senna name again would be very important for Formula 1, I agree, but I am happy that moment has not arrived yet."

After missing out on the Brawn GP opportunity, Senna has since been linked to a 2009 opening with Mercedes-Benz in the DTM, or at sportscar squad Oreca in the Le Mans Series.