BAR have revealed that Rubens Barrichello will be joining the team in a multi-year deal from 2006. Barrichello’s departure from Ferrari at the end of this season was announced earlier this month.

"I am very excited to confirm that I will be joining BAR Honda in 2006,” said the Brazilian. “I wish to thank everyone at Ferrari for six fantastic years. I have won many races with them and I am proud to have helped the team, to date, to win five Constructors' World Championships. However my target remains winning the Drivers' title and to achieve that I felt that I needed a renewed motivation.

“I have been watching BAR Honda's progress for some time and have been struck by the spirit and determination of a team that has all the right ingredients to win races and go on to win World Championships. I can't think of anything more exciting than working with the team and Honda to achieve our shared ambitions together. Obviously I have a job to do at Ferrari until the end of the season, but I am very happy about the fantastic times that I know still lie ahead."

With Jenson Button’s future at BAR still unclear, it remains to be seen who will be Barrichello’s team mate next season. However, BAR CEO Nick Fry was delighted to welcome such an experienced driver. Barrichello has scored 482 points from 212 Grands Prix, won nine races and taken 61 podiums.

"Signing Rubens represents another exciting milestone in BAR Honda's development and in Rubens' own career,” said Fry. “This is a strong and successful team that is determined to achieve its World Championship ambitions and we are confident that these will be realised soon. Rubens is not only an excellent driver, but he has the experience of building a race and Championship winning team and these skills are very important as we work to take BAR Honda to the next level.

“The fact that we have developed so quickly to become an attractive proposition to drivers of Rubens' standing is a fantastic credit to the team. We are delighted that Rubens recognises our enormous potential and wishes to help us realise our dream in the not too distant future. I would also like to thank Ferrari for all of their cooperation in allowing Rubens to join us next year."

Barrichello will be replaced at Ferrari by Sauber's Felipe Massa.

Source: http://www.formula1.com

i am glad to see he's moving on, and i hope he takes Sato's place!

This guy is doing the biggest mistake of his life... he is going to do nothng with BAR, its just one of those ego trips pilots get some times, and there goes his carrier....same situation with that of Jack Villeneuve...look at him now, all he does is complain about everything.

Barrichello is not that good of a driver to make soemthing o the BAR honda's.

You probably don't know what Barrichello achieved with the Stewart-Ford before he came to Ferrari. Look it up, be surprised, and change your mind.

Note: dont look at the results, because the car let him down quite a few times.

I think it's good for him, he was just tired of being Schumacher's shadow, but I think that BAR wasn't the best choice...

OK ok, sorry for my ignorant comment, Its not like he is the worst pilot every, I mean he is a F1 driver...but i still stand by my point that he will do nothing in BAR. its more I have an example of someone who pulled the same move and basically ruined his carrier I just cant remember the guys name..Once i find it ill post it.

but I think that BAR wasn't the best choice...

The better choice was....? McLaren, full. Renault, full too(probably), Toyota full. That leaves Williams, BAR, RedBull, Midland and Minardi. Barri will never go to one of the last two teams, so that leaves Williams, BAR, Redbull and Sauber.
RedBull is probably keeping Coulthard, and I doubt if they'll choose another older driver(maybe they'll even keep Liuzzi or Klien)
Williams will change engines twice in two years(BMW-> Cosworth -> Toyota(probably))
That leaves BAR and Sauber. I think Barri choose the safe way and went for BAR.

So, I find it hard to see why BAR wasn't the best choice....

Well you never know the way F1 is chanign myabe BAR will enter one of its winning streaks again, and Honda will manage to provide them with the powerplant to win.

Well you never know the way F1 is chanign myabe BAR will enter one of its winning streaks again, and Honda will manage to provide them with the powerplant to win.

What winnig streak? BAR has never won a race in 6 and 2/3 seasons, and their best results are four second places and two pole positions.

Regarding Barrichello, as well put by CarRocker, it was BAR or nothing. It doesn´t seem he had many choices. And the opportunity only arose because BAR is thinking to tank Sato and Button may finally go to Williams.
But if Button remains in BAR, Barrichello, once again, will be the second driver. Although I like the chap, I´m very much afraid that he will follow the steps of many others after leaving the big teams: Mansell, Hill, and more recently, Villeneuve. The good days of poles and podiums are over.

Have you chck the news: Gran Prix, Planet F1, etc.
The signing of Barrichello by BAR was suggested and approved by Jenson Button himself.
What´s the reading here? Button is somehow confident he´ll be capable of staying at BAR and wants a stronger second than Sato.