Formula One news

Barrichello labels Sato an amateur

Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello was critical of "amateur" Takuma Sato here Sunday after a collision with the BAR-Honda driver almost ended his race in the European Grand Prix. Sato took a gamble after coming out behind the Ferrari driver after the second pit-stops when he attempted to get up the inside of second-placed Barrichello into the first corner and the pair touched.

Barrichello escaped without any serious damage but Sato lost the front wing of his car and was forced to pit, only for his race to end minutes later when he was struck by an engine failure for the second week running. But Brazilian Barrichello was unhappy that his race could have been ended by Sato's aggression. "I think I lost a part of my bargeboard and aerodynamically, especially at high speed, the car felt a bit strange," he said. "So, I was lucky that the race was getting towards the end. I am sorry to say it but I think it was a bit too amateur from Sato to do that because he wasn't in a position to actually try and overtake.

"He came completely sideways and luckily I saw the nose coming and I just took avoiding action and I was lucky that nothing else broke on my car. I just took that avoiding action which I think kept me alive."

Sato started the race from second on the grid and was looking to score the best result by a Japanese driver by passing Barrichello for second place behind Michael Schumacher. Barrichello admitted had Sato bided his time he could have overtaken him because he had the quicker car. "He could have eventually overtaken me because he was fast enough but he
didn't need to do it on that lap," Barrichello added. "He wasn't in contention on that lap."

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