Teamwork on the track

• Schumi regards the Brazilian as his most feared rival, the one to push the German to the limit. And Barichello has always spoken of feeling proud to drive alongside Schumi

• The ratio of points they bring to Ferrari is 2:1 in Schumi’s favour but two years ago, when Barichello’s contract was being discussed, the world champion spoke out: ‘‘I would be happy to stay with him beyond the contract date’’

• At the Austrian GP in May 2002, the Brazilian moved over for his teammate yards before the finish line to help Schumi finally win at the A1-Ring at Zeltweg, the only track on the current calendar where he’d never won

• In September, Schumi returned the favour to help Barichello win the US Grand Prix in Indianapolis. The Brazilian’s 0.011s winning margin ensured Ferarri a 1-2 finish for the drivers’ championship

THE NEW BOYS

• Having both driven the World Series last year, and raced for Carlin Motorsport, Karthikeyan and Monteiro see themselves as woven from the same thread and are strong supporters of each other

• So far they’ve both done positive PR for each other. Monteiro talks of Narain being quick and smart and vows to push as hard as the Indian does. Karthikeyan speaks of a good rivalry on the inside and a combined attack on the outside

• The first thing they need to do is work towards the team’s success. Any achievement will silence critics who’ve doubted their ability. As Monteiro says, ‘‘We are here to prove ourselves, but in a smart, intelligent way.’’

TEAMMATES OR DEADLY RIVALS?

Not all pairings have been as sweet to each other, of course. Two partnerships were famously bitter in the past 20 years

• Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were at each other’s throats — and banging each other’s cars — in their six-odd seasons at McLaren. No question of slowing down for the pther. But it didn’t matter: Senna was world champion three times (1988, ’90, ’91) titles and Prost — world champion in 1986 and 1987 — twice more (1989, 93)

• Senna’s death in 1994 gave rise to another great rivalry, between Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet at Williams. Indeed their battle was so fierce that in 1996, instead of either one winning, they allowed Prost to nip in and take the title.