MARCH 29, 2001

Schumacher and Barrichello in talks

FERRARI's Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello will have a clear-the-air meeting prior to this weekend's Brazilian race in an effort to prevent a rift ripping through the successful team.

Brazilian Barrichello was livid after Schumacher overtook him unexpectedly, and in Barrichello's eyes incorrectly, in the wet Malaysian conditions. But Schumacher was unrepentant.

"It is like in any relationship," explained Schumacher. "You have a difficult moment and you disagree at certain moments, but I don't see Malaysia being a particularly bad situation."

But it was bad enough to force Ferrari to sit the pair down for a chat before this weekend's race, which they hope will clear the air.

"Things like that you don't discuss on the phone," Schumacher said. "We will have a chat over the weekend, sit together, talk together, and find a good solution.

"I don't see it as being a drama and I don't think the working side will be included at all."