‘It’s a dream come true’ – Barrichello aiming to do ‘special’ things with AIX in 2026

Fernando Barrichello is confident that he and AIX Racing can do some ‘special stuff’ this year as his campaign got underway with pre-season testing in Barcelona.

The Brazilian was talking prior to jumping into the car for the first time this season, and he completed a team-leading 187 laps across the three days.

It kicked off a campaign where Barrichello is aiming to be competitive with AIX, believing he and the team can be competitive throughout the year.

“I’m very, very, very excited,” said Barrichello. “I cannot wait to get in the car. Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to drive anything over the winter.

“So the last time I drove was in Imola. So I know there's going to be some rust in there. So I've tried to prepare myself in every way that I can and to sort of drive anything that I could drive.

“So go-karting and working out as much as I can. I had the opportunity to do the Porsche race with my dad, but I'm just excited to get back in the car. I've been missing the feeling of that adrenaline.

“I think it's going to be a really, really excited season, and I'm very excited, not just because it's a dream come true, but from what I see from the team and what I know that I'm capable of doing. I think we can really do some very special stuff.”

Barrichello got some time in the AIX F3 car at the final round of the 2025 season in Monza, and also at the three post-season tests in Jerez, Barcelona, and Imola.

The 20-year-old admits he struggled over the course of those tests, but having looked over the data during the winter and taking a break at home has helped him reset ahead of the season.

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“I feel like the post-season testing was very tough for me,” admitted Barrichello. “We struggled with a lot of issues, but also, I was very uncomfortable in various different ways, physically in the car, but also with other stuff from the driving side.

“But I think those really tough tests are as positive as the really positive ones. Even though it was very tough, we extracted the maximum possible data from the car, which is always a positive.

“We were able to complete all the plans that we had. But I think it was going back home and really looking at why it was so bad, and now I have understood that I was so frustrated and I fell into this sort of burnout mode.

“It made me forget my principles of work and what makes me work well. I feel like going back home was really about getting back with that, understanding that, and changing back to that mindset. So I feel like I've really understood the things I need to do.”

When asked what he needed to do to continue that when the season gets started, Barrichello said: “I just really need to have the patience because I know these guys have been driving a lot and I haven't driven anything in four months.

“So I know it's going to take a little bit of getting back in a rhythm. There's always that rust on your body at the start, it's not used to that speed, but I'm sure it's going to come alive at some point. Hopefully soon.”

While Barrichello expects to be suffering from rust in the first few weeks of the season, he believes the fact that Melbourne is new to a lot of drivers, and that they test in Sakhir ahead of the race weekend will help him close the advantage to his rivals.

“In those first couple of rounds, obviously you want great results, but with the test as well, it's trying to get up to speed,” he explained. “So when you do go back to Europe, you can hit the ground as firmly running as possible.

“I think what's very positive about the first rounds for me personally, people are not really able to test in Australia at all, and in Bahrain, you can test, but not as much as you would test in Barcelona.

“So I feel like we can really use that in a positive way. Maybe it levels out the playing field a bit more. And even for the big teams as well, that have been in the category for a long time, they definitely have a lot more experience in Barcelona than they do in Australia.

“So we talked as a team that we could really use that to our benefit. So I think that we can really work on that. I've never been to Australia, but I've been trying to everything I can to prepare myself.

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“With the little time that we have on track, it is about really maximising and getting to the reference points that you have and getting to that high level as quickly as possible to then deliver afterwards.”

Looking at the season as a whole, Barrichello outlined his goals for the year. The main thing for the Brazilian driver is that his work ethic does not change no matter the results.

“I think obviously I'm here to win, I want to win,” said Barrichello. “I think there's also realistic sort of goals that you need to put with the team and what the team also envisions for what the season should look like. But I don't really limit myself to that.

“I feel like I know what I want to be doing and I know what I'm going to be happy with doing. So I think I'm just going to really work 120% if I'm fighting for the championship or if I'm struggling, I'm going to do the same type of work.

“I think my confidence comes from my preparation. So just really ticking all the boxes in terms of the prep and I'm sure the results will come. I have no doubt that the season will be very positive and that we'll have very special results.”