Monday 4 May at 10:31 : May 4 (GMM) Rubens Barrichello does not accept that 2009 is his last chance to become world champion

The veteran Brazilian readily acknowledges that his career hung in the balance last winter, as he waited for confirmation of the rescue of the former Honda team and to know if he would be Jenson Button's Brawn teammate

But even though after a record 275 grands prix he is a tantalising 12 points from the top of the drivers' championship, 36-year-old Barrichello refuses to admit that 2009 is his final real shot at the title

"Who knows," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, "perhaps I will drive for another two, three years

"In my life I have always thought positively and I am convinced that this attitude is what put me where I am."nnButton has already won three times in the sister Mercedes-powered BGP001, but Barrichello said he does not feel psychologically defeated

"Motor racing is not like tennis," he insisted. "It's not like you're in the third set having lost two (sets) 6:0. I know from the last three years that I can drive as fast as Jenson."n