And the best part of it all is the fact that they were once teammates in Ferrari.

In case you missed, the 2010 F1 season resumed in Hungary where a frustrated Michael Schumacher put on quite a dastardly move on former teammate Rubens Barrichello after the former seven-time world champion tried to put Barrichello to the wall when the Brazilian tried to get past him.

Luckily, Michael Schumacher failed to catch the Brazilian so instead of keeping the lead, Rubens Barrichello zoomed past his teammate, leaving the once king of Formula One in his rearview mirror.

Fans were shocked of how Michael Schumacher tried to defend his position, calling the move cheap and unfair. Ross Brawn on the other hand is adamant Schumacher was not trying to put Rubens Barrichello into the wall in Hungary, rather he was trying to “discourage him”.

Fighting for the final points-paying position in the Hungarian GP, Schumacher moved across the track, squeezing Barrichello towards the wall, which the Brazilian only just managed to avoid hitting

The Hungarian stewards ruled that Schumacher had “”illegitimately impeded” Barrichello and slapped with a ten-grid slot penalty for the next race in Belgium.

However, his Mercedes GP team boss reckons that was a “tough” call.

“Pretty tough – a tough move by Michael and a tough decision by the stewards,” said Brawn.

“I don’t think for a moment that Michael was trying to put Rubens in the wall – but he was trying to discourage him from coming down the inside because he thought that was where he would be vulnerable.”

“But at the end of the day he gave him enough space. You can argue that it was marginal but – tough racing.” He added: “Later in the manoeuvre you can see he moved away from Rubens, I don’t think he expected Rubens to be exactly where he was at that time because it is a sort of manoeuvre that happens when you enter a corner not that far up a straight.”

“Rubens got a very good run out of the last corner with his new tyres so I think there is lots of way arguing it – but these things happen in a fraction of a second.”

The Mercedes GP team boss was also adamant that there was no malicious intent behind Schumacher’s move.

“It may have ended up in a dangerous way but that wasn’t the intent I am sure by Michael,” he said.

“Michael was defending his position, trying to encourage Rubens to go around the outside. I don’t think for a moment that he saw Rubens there and thought ‘I will squeeze him’. “But it is a pretty tough business F1 and if you open up every time someone tries to attack you then you know the drivers in F1 who don’t defend and those that do.”

Asked whether the ‘history’ between the two former Ferrari team-mates had played a role in Schumacher’s aggressive driving, Brawn said: “Certainly not from Michael’s perspective!”

“Michael didn’t comment on that. I know Rubens has commented on the history between them, but Michael hasn’t at all. It is obviously something that is paramount in Rubens’ mind.”

Can Mark Webber win the 2010 F1 world championship? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Mark Webber 10.00

Fernando Alonso 3.50

Lewis Hamilton 4.50

Sebastien Vettel 6.50

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more F1 betting odds. Want to watch F1 live? Get F1 tickets online now.

Michael Schumacher Rubens Barrichello

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