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Date of Birth: 23 May 1972
Birthplace: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Marital status: Married to Silvana, 1 child
Height: 172cm
Weight: 77kg
Wins: 5
Points Score: 272
Number of GP: 165
Pole Positions: 6
Podiums: 35
First GP: 1993 (Kyalami)
Best Result: Win
Current Team: Ferrari |
History:
81/89 : |
Karting. (Champion of Brazil, 5 times). |
1989 : |
Formula Ford 1600 Brazil, 4th |
1990 : |
Formula Vauxhall, 11th. |
1991 : |
British Formula 3 Champion. |
1992 : |
Formula 3000, 3rd. |
1993 : |
Formula 1 (Jordan), 9th with 02 points. |
1994 : |
Formule 1 (Jordan), 6th with 19 points. |
1995 : |
Formula 1 (Jordan), 11th with 11 points. |
1996 : |
Formula 1 (Jordan), 8th with 14 points. |
1997 : |
Formula 1 (Stewart), 14th with 06 points. |
1998 : |
Formula 1 (Stewart), 12nd with 04 points. |
1999 : |
Formula 1 (Stewart), 7th with 21 points. |
2000 : |
Formula 1 (Ferrari), 4th with 62 points. |
2001 : |
Formula 1 (Ferrari), 3rd with 56 points. |
2002 : |
Formula 1 (Ferrari), 2nd with 77 points. |
Career:
Rubens had one of the fastest climbs from
karting to formula one than any other active driver. By the age of 17, he had 5
national karting titles, and promptly went on to win the GM Euroseries in the
same year. Formula Three came next for him, where he won the title in 1991 for
West Surrey Racing. He had less success the next year, when he tried Formula
3000, but he came third overall, and was ready for Formula One by his
twenty-first birthday.
He made his Formula One debut in 1993, driving for
Eddie Jordan, at the South African Grand Prix, where he qualified 14th, but the
gearbox failed him on lap 31. He nearly finished in second place, behind his
hero and countryman, Ayrton Senna, in only his third race, but fuel problems
late in the race prevented this. In 1994, he claimed his first pole position, in
the wet at Spa-Francorchamps, but sadly he spun off on lap 19.
That year
did see him finish third at the Pacific Grand prix, as well as five other fourth
positions. Mechanical failures plagued him in 1995, but the Canadian Grand Prix
saw his first second place finish. He stayed with Jordan until the 97 season
when he signed with Stewart, where he still remains, bringing home the teams
only points when he came second in Monaco. 1998 showed another year without
success, with fifth place finishes in Spain and Canada, 9 retirements, and an
injury in the aborted start at the Belgian Grand Prix preventing him from
restarting, saw him end the season in 12th position with 4 points.
In
1999 he partnered Johnny Herbert and after a very promising start to the season,
the car failed on many occasions, but when it didn't. Rubens put in some strong
performances, even taking pole position in a wet qualifying that took all the
drivers by surprise. By mid season it was one of Formula Ones worst kept secrets
that he was signing with Ferrari for the 2000 season in a basic swap with Eddie
Irvine.
The 2000 season was one Rubens would never forget, the year
beginning full of hope to fulfill his and his country's dreams of success. His
first career victory at Hockenheim is one that will remain etched not just his
but all Formula one fans memories for a lifetime, the tears flowing free and
easy as he stood on the top step of the podium for the very first time. His
efforts throughout the season helped Ferrari clinch victory in the constructor's
championship while the Brazilian finished fourth overall in the drivers
battle.
Although no further victories were forthcoming in 2001, Rubens battled it out
for second place in the drivers championship with McLaren driver David Coulthard
but failed to pass the Scot and was forced to settle for third. In 2002 another
four wins came his way, the most notorious being the one at the USGP when
together with teammate Michael Schumacher the duo attempted to create history by
crossing the line with the smallest gap in F1 history. It didn't work out as
planned however and Rubens took the victory away from Schumacher by a narrow
margin instead.
After finishing second in the 2002 championship behind
his Ferrari teammate, Rubens is once again full of hope and confidence that the
new season will bring even bigger and better things.