Rubens Barrichello holds the record for the most Grand Prix starts for a Brazilian driver in Formula 1.
Only three drivers, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen, have entered more Formula 1 races than Rubens Barrichello during their careers.
Barrichello started his F1 career in 1993, racing against the legendary Ayrton Senna, who inspired a generation of Brazilians.
Spells at Jordan and Stewart led to Barrichello joining Ferrari, leading to one of the most dominating partnerships in the sport’s history.
Barrichello has spoken about the ‘magic’ Ferrari possessed as Michael Schumacher won five titles, before racing for Honda, Brawn GP and finally Williams.
The 2009 Italian Grand Prix was Barrichello’s final F1 win as he tried to chase down Jenson Button in the drivers’ championship, but fell short in what proved to be his final season in a title-winning team.
Grand Prix starts322Pole positions14Wins11Podiums68Fastest laps17Points658Best championship result2nd (2002, 2004)Rubens Barrichello’s Formula 1 career
That was the last time a Brazilian driver stood on the top of the podium in Formula 1, with Felipe Massa, Felipe Nasr, Nelson Piquet Jr, Bruno Senna and Lucas di Grassi all competing in the sport full-time in the meantime.
The latest Brazilian hoping to end that wait for a race winner is Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto.
Barrichello has given his verdict on Bortoleto and pinpointed the next Brazilian he expects to get to F1 soon.
READ MORE: Who is 2025 Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto? Everything you need to know
Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty ImagesRubens Barrichello backs Ferrari junior Rafael Camara amid Gabriel Bortoleto verdict
Barrichello was being interviewed on the Pit Lane Chronicle Substack and asked about F1’s current Brazilian legacy. He said: “There is a lot of will and desire that he does well. He’s doing really well, he’s taking his chances and taking his time, and it’s nice to see, it’s really nice to see.
“It’s crazy to think that I was the last winner in Formula 1 for Brazil. It’s too long ago. Rafa [Camara] is also very, very good, and I hope that he gets to Formula 1 soon as well. I cheer for him a lot, and he’s a good driver, for sure.
“You can see Gabriel doing so well in Formula 1, and we do have plenty of good drivers. It’s always a situation with cash.
“Brazil, financially, is not as strong as we might think. So, this is a problem. But if you go to a go-kart track, there are plenty of go-karts going around.
“So, kids are learning, their desire to get to the top is still big. It’s just a matter of time for us to have more Brazilian Formula 1 drivers in there.”
READ MORE: Kimi Antonelli sends message to Rafa Camara after Ferrari junior’s outstanding Formula 3 title win
Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty ImagesGabriel Bortoleto backed to be Ferrari’s next Brazilian driver by Bernie Ecclestone
Rafael Camara will almost certainly move up to Formula 2 next season after winning the F3 title with a race weekend to spare in Hungary.
It’s a feat that even the likes of Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri didn’t manage at that level.
Bortoleto is the latest back-to-back championship winner who reached Formula 1, and in the last few races before the summer break, he’s shown why Sauber decided against re-signing Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu to pick him up from McLaren.
RANKDRIVERTEAMPOINTS1Lando NorrisMcLaren252Oscar PiastriMcLaren183George RussellMercedes154Charles LeclercFerrari125Fernando AlonsoAston Martin106Gabriel BortoletoSauber87Lance StrollAston Martin68Liam LawsonRacing Bulls49Max VerstappenRed Bull210Kimi AntonelliMercedes1
Bernie Ecclestone has backed Bortoleto to replace Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, although the former F1 boss has played a part in the 20-year-old’s journey into the sport.
It would be a kick in the teeth for Oliver Bearman, who appears to be the next man in line to race for Ferrari once his Haas loan spell ends.
However, Camara will want to put the pressure on Ferrari to find him a seat on the grid by winning the F2 title in 2026.