How retired F1 racer Rubens Barrichello is winning races at 52

Former Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello won both races of the NASCAR Brazil Interlagos round last weekend. His victories came more than 13 years after his retirement from F1 and marked a return to the top spot of the podium at Interlagos for the first time since 1990 when he competed in South American Formula 3.

“When I stopped racing in Formula 1, I was 39 years old,” said Barrichello.

“I heard some people saying that I had already shown everything I had to show. And, for me, that showed that people didn’t know me.”

Barrichello entered his debut season in NASCAR Brazil in 2025, and won both races when the series stopped off at Interlagos this weekend. The Ferrari and BrawnGP icon triumphed in NASCAR Brazil’s third round, getting his first victory on Saturday and following it with a win in Sunday’s main race.

“Interlagos, for me, is a joy,” Barrichello said.

“I’ve been driving here since 1990, when I won the race. The tow here [in this championship] has a big impact. Roger Penske couldn’t see the race [because of the 2025 Indy 500 qualifying], otherwise he’d call me to race on a little oval. Stay tuned, Mr. Penske!”

After retiring from F1 in 2011, the Brazilian racer had a spell in IndyCar, followed by stints in stock cars and endurance racers. Barichello now races in Stock Car Pro and NASCAR Brazil, and got his last title in the former in 2022 after clinching his first championship win in Stock Car Pro back in 2014.

The last two Stock Car Pro years, though, were difficult for him: he was 7th in 2023 and just 14th in 2024. Now, at 52, the former F1 driver is turning around his seasons following a difficult start to 2025.

“The truth is that it’s a great joy to be able to fight with all your strength for a victory you’ve always dreamed of, and this weekend it came in double doses,” he said.

“We saw [Nico] Rosberg, for example, who was a champion and retired. But I really like what I do, it’s a gift, it is with gratitude that I compete, battling younger and experienced drivers. I am a very grateful person for all the situations.

“When Thiago [Marques, NASCAR Brazil CEO] and Maurício [Ferreira, team principal] from Full Time Team showed me the perspective [for NASCAR Brazil], I only had a problem with dates, because there are some rounds that I can’t race. For example, I won’t race the next NASCAR round because I have to be at Le Mans.”

Barrichello will not race in Le Mans next month, but instead has sponsorship ties to the event that his son, Eduardo Barrichello, will contest with the Racing Spirit of Leman GT3 team in World Endurance Championship.

“I’ll take my helmet and if something happens…” the Brazilian said.

“Anyway, when they [Marques and Ferreira] showed me what we could do, it didn’t take long for us to decide that I would race [in NASCAR Brazil].

“The love I have for my profession, along with gratitude, make me a balanced person.

“What got worse for ‘Rubinho?’ My eyesight. I’m getting older, my eyesight gets worse, but you adapt to it and everything is fine.” 

Barrichello will celebrate his 53rd birthday on Friday 23 May, with track action in the Stock Car Pro Series’ Cascavel round, where he will keep living up to his already incredible – and passionate – motorsport journey.