Barrichello attacks Schumacher for 'unfair battle'

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello criticised former Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher on Sunday for what he said was the most dangerous manoeuvre ever used against him.

"I like fair battle but I don't think it was fair," the Williams driver told Germany's RTL television after the seven-times world champion forced him perilously close to the wall and off track in a Hungarian Grand Prix duel.

"It was a go-kart manoeuvre. If he wants to go to heaven before me he can; I don't want to go to heaven," added Barrichello, who spent six years at Ferrari with Schumacher where the German regularly benefited from preferential treatment.

On the social network Twitter, Barrichello described Schumacher's action as "the most dangerous manoeuvre against me that I have ever known".

The race stewards, including former F1 driver Derek Warwick, were investigating the incident.

Barrichello went past for 10th place and the final point late in the race while Schumacher, making a Formula One comeback at the age of 41 and after three years in retirement, was 11th for Mercedes.

Schumacher, whose comeback has disappointed those who expected him to get back among the winners, was dismissive of Barrichello's complaint.

"We know certain drivers have certain views, and then there's Rubens...," he told the BBC.

"As far as I was concerned there was enough room for him to get through there. But it's clear that I wanted to make life for him as difficult as possible," he told RTL.

Barrichello urged his 469,000 followers on Twitter to make their feelings clear.

"I'll let the stewards say whatever they have to say. His view is always that I'm a big crier and so on. I would like the public to vote, tell me on Twitter (@rubarrichello)."