Barrichello

MAGNY-COURS, France -- Rubens Barrichello was on a plane ready to head home when he heard his Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher had won a record-equalling fifth Formula One title.

The Brazilian, whose car failed to start the French Grand Prix, promptly put aside his own personal disappointment and headed back to the track.

"After what happened to me at the start, I had left the circuit," he said. "I was on the plane ready to go when I heard that Michael had won.

"I felt I had to return to the track, because we are a family and we stick together through thick and thin."

The Brazilian said he still did not know what had happened to his car, which was left raised on a jack at the start of the formation lap as the others thundered past.

"The engine never fired up, even though we tried everything we could," he said of an incident that cost Ferrari a possible third one-two in a row.

"We changed the steering wheel, tried all the buttons but there was nothing we could do."

It was Schumacher's eighth victory in 11 Grands Prix this season and made him the 'fastest' world champion in Formula One history, taking the title in July with six rounds remaining.