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Formula One: Stewart Ford Racing News, Belgian Grand Prix

29 August 1999

Rubens Barrichello finished today's Belgian Grand Prix in 10th place. Johnny Herbert retired on lap 27 after going off the circuit with brake problems caused by a wheel bearing seizure.

RUBENS BARRICHELLO Car No.16 (SF3-04)

You have been further off the pace than expected in Spa. Why?

'I have suffered from lack of mechanical grip all weekend. I managed to nail one lap in qualifying and that was my weekend's moment of glory. I was having a real problem with grip during the race. All I could do was to keep it on the road and go as fast as I could.'

JOHNNY HERBERT Car No.17 (SF3-05)

Why did you go off the circuit?

'I went off on the grass at Pouhon because of a brake problem. I pumped the pedal and it all seemed fine but at the next corner Fagnes it felt like I lost the brakes and I went straight on into the gravel trap and hit the barrier backwards. Before that I was bothered by understeer and a general lack of grip.'

PAUL STEWART, Stewart-Ford Chief Operating Officer

'Not a race we can be proud of. We had hoped for a better performance in Spa but we were never really competitive at any point during the weekend. We must find the reason on our return to the factory and remedy the situation before Monza.'

MARTIN WHITAKER, Director, Ford Racing, Europe

'Although a disappointing result at least Rubens got home in the top 10 despite a scare early in the race when the telemetry showed us we had a potential air-valve problem. This was successfully rectified at the first pit stop. Once again Johnny was unlucky in the race.'