Rubens Barrichello wins NASCAR championship – aged 53
Rubens Barrichello managed to secure another tin-top title in his long career last weekend
Barrichello had one of F1's lengthiest careers
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Rubens Barrichello may never have secured the Formula 1 title he so craved in, but last weekend he did manage to secure another milestone in one of racing’s longest careers.
The former Jordan, Stewart, Ferrari, Honda and Williams driver clinched the 2025 NASCAR Brazil championship during his debut season in the series.
The 53-year-old Brazilian sealed the title in his debut season in the category, taking the crown with one race to spare.
Driving the No91 Ford Mustang for the Full Time Sports team, Barrichello won both races at the Autodromo Velocitta, securing the title after his first victory, which came after making contact with team-mate Thiago Camilo, who got spun by Barrichello early on.
The win at Velocitta was Barrichello’s fourth of the 2025 NASCAR Brazil season, following earlier triumphs at Interlagos and Cascavel.
The championship added another title to Barrichello’s extensive resume.
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After an 19-year Formula 1 career that included 11 grand prix wins with Ferrari and Brawn GP, Barrichello went on to claim Brazil’s Stock Car Pro Series titles in 2014 and 2022.
His latest success also makes him one of the few drivers to win championships in both of Brazil’s major touring car series.
“I am very happy with my journey within NASCAR Brazil,” the Brazilian said. “I fell in love with the category and adapted very quickly to the car. And this is a very remarkable moment for me.
“Realising that I am still very competitive, winning this title and having my family around was very special. It is from them, my father and my children, that my energy comes. I feel a lot of gratitude for everything that happened.”
Over the course of his 19-season grand prix journey, Barrichello became one of the series’ most respected and enduring drivers.
Making his debut in 1993 with Jordan, he went on to race for Stewart and most famously Ferrari, where he was Michael Schumacher’s team-mate during the team’s dominant early‑2000s era.
Barrichello earned 11 grand prix victories, 68 podiums, and remains the most experienced driver in F1 history with 322 race starts.
He later served as a mentor figure at Honda, Brawn GP, and Williams before departing F1 in 2011.