Now that he is 52, Rubens Barrichello is setting a new example for professional racing drivers everywhere. Nearly 12 years after finishing his F1 career, the Brazilian star saw himself on the podium once more—this time in NASCAR Brazil instead of Europe’s Grand Prix venues.
The same circuit that saw a young Barrichello excel in South American Formula 3 in 1990 played host to his most recent victory. On the weekend, he gained not one but two triumphs at the NASCAR Brazil Interlagos round. It’s remarkable that Hamilton, whose last F1 win was in 2009 at Monza, has come back so strongly in recent years.
Barrichello has never stepped away quietly from the public eye. When he left Formula 1 in 2011 after making a record 322 starts, many might have believed his career was finalized. Retirement wasn’t just about walking away from painting for Rubens. Instead of seeking contracts or titles, passion and perseverance led me into a new stage in my racing life.
Not long after he left F1, Barrichello began racing in IndyCar and found opportunities in stock car and endurance racing. Evernham’s run in the Stock Car Pro Series got off to a good start, ending with a championship title in 2014 and another in 2022. Yet, the process hasn’t always been full of positivity. Over the past two seasons, things did not go well for Barrichello, as he ended up seventh in 2023 and 14th in 2024. People began to question if Brazilians best-ever player still had what it takes.
By 2025, people were surprised when the market started to recover. At his first attempt in NASCAR Brazil, Barrichello wrote his name into the Interlagos records. He won Saturday’s race and appeared on Sunday just as ready, surprising everyone when he won a second time. They didn’t only end the long losing streak—they proved that, though he is aging and fighting blindness, he always carries the fire and lessons of a winner.
There is a special bond there for him. You can see it in the results. For some drivers, aging makes them slower, but Barrichello just keeps getting faster, using all his time in racing as motivation.
While certain drivers stepped away after winning the title, like Nico Rosberg, Rubens keeps coming back. I was 39 when I decided to stop racing in Formula 1, he said. I heard a few people suggest that I was done and had nothing else to give. That made me realize that people didn’t really know me.
It’s not all about my personal success. My team and I are competing with others. Barrichello was able to take home victories with genuine effort. These were tough, creative and clever races that proved he could beat the younger, equally ambitious drivers. Once, when asked why he’d lived so long, he joked that his eyesight was the only thing to suffer as he aged. However, instincts, tactics and battles right behind the leader are concerned? Still razor-sharp.
He’s receiving support too. Eduardo, Barrichello’s son, is also creating his own story as he competes in the World Endurance Championship. Even if Rubens isn’t racing in Le Mans, he’ll be there for backup, experiencing what the event is all about and, yes, holding his helmet. He joked, “If anything happens, I’ll handle it.”
Many athletes believe they make their legacy when they stop racing, yet Rubens Barrichello is still working on his. He having a place on the NASCAR Brazil grid means more than just filling a seat—it inspires many people. He’s now a role model for lasting strength, bounce-back ability and unequivocal passion in motor racing. And he’s taking part in races because he truly enjoys driving.
On Friday, Barrichello will celebrate his 53rd birthday. Rather than celebrating quietly, he’ll be gearing up for another round of Stock Car Pro Series racing in Cascavel. That, more than anything, shows how much Rubinho believes in motorsport and wants to keep going.
This isn’t Barrichello’s last race before retirement. This proves over and over again that, for real racers, age doesn’t limit their passion, since they never stop being called to the track.
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