Apr.4 (GMM) Both Brawn runners had a worryingly smoky final practice session at Sepang on Saturday afternoon, but the team insists it remains on track
“It’s just that we’re running maximum oil level,” engineer Jock Clear, alluding to engine overfill, told a concerned Rubens Barrichello during the session
The Brazilian completed the session without problem and ninth quickest, and teammate Jenson Button was tenth, the Briton having also reported “a big puff” of white smoke from his customer Mercedes at the exit of a corner
Engine failures this year do not attract penalties until a driver has run through eight power plants, but a problem in round two would put the Brawn pair behind schedule for the season
Williams’ Nico Rosberg finished the practice session fastest, for the fifth time out of the six practice sessions so far in 2009
Runners for Red Bull, Ferrari and Toyota were also in the top seven, but the two McLarens and Renaults continued their struggle for pace
Melbourne winner Button believes Ferrari is the favourite to win on Sunday
“You might think I’m crazy or that I’m trying to talk us down but I think that Ferrari are the team to beat at this moment,” said the Brawn driver
McLaren mechanics sent reporters and FIA scrutineers into a spin during the session, when they were spotted spraying a tyre with a can of unidentified liquid
“I have never seen that before in formula one,” former driver and BBC commentator Anthony Davidson said
It turned out the can contained only water, as the mechanics were hunting for an apparent small puncture
It has been confirmed that BMW’s Nick Heidfeld, but hot his taller teammate Robert Kubica, will again use KERS this weekend
It was a hot and humid practice session, with heavy cloud overhead and a few minor spots of rain
Heikki Kovalainen dealt with the heat by clutching at a bag of ice when in the garage, while Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel revealed on Friday that he is using a bag of dry-ice this weekend “which I put next to my balls”
