Barrichello can be a champion - Brawn - 12th September 11:02pm GMT

Barrichello's lifelong dream of claiming the drivers' world championship will have to wait until Michael Schumacher retires. That is the view of Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn, who believes the way Schumacher is driving makes him almost unstoppable.

Brawn believes Barrichello has all the qualities of a champion but has been unlucky to be around at the same time as Schumacher. But he says Barrichello can carry on Ferrari's dominance after the mighty German hangs up his helmet.

Brawn said: "Rubens would be a world champion now if Michael had not been at Ferrari. The number of second places that he has had proves that, but he has just been unlucky that Michael is so unstoppable and unreal behind the steering wheel. People always ask me who could replace Michael when he quits, but I don't think it is an issue because Rubens is good enough to win a world championship."

Schumacher wrapped up his seventh world crown at the last race in Belgium ahead of Ferrari's home Grand Prix at Monza today.

But it would be a different story with Schumacher out of the picture. Then, Barrichello would be coming into the race with 110 points rather than 88 - and leading the drivers' championship by 28 points ahead of Jenson Button.

That's life, though, and the way Schumacher seems to be enjoying racing and winning means Barrichello could have a long wait for his 15 minutes of fame. Brawn said: "The thing is I've never seen Michael so motivated and for a guy who has been in F1 for 15 years that's saying something.

"Also, Michael has great enthusiasm towards racing, whether it is testing or at a Grand Prix, and what he has done will be looked back on and everyone will wonder how this ever happened. This is his best season I've ever seen because he usually has a bad race, but not this year. He hasn't done anything wrong. That is why it's such a struggle for Rubens because he is driving really well but he has a guy next to him who is just amazing. Schumacher holds the records and I don't think anyone will ever get near what he's done - it is almost unthinkable to imagine someone can dominate for so long."