Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello admit Malaysia’s weather and the Sepang circuit layout will make it tough to repeat their Australian heroics, but they plan to give it their best shot.
Their Brawn GP team, hastily formed in early March from the ashes of the long-standing Honda Racing, upset the established order when Button and Barrichello sensationally came first and second at Melbourne last week.
It was the first time a new team has won its debut Grand Prix since Jody Scheckter’s victory for Wolf in the season-opening race of 1977 in Argentina.
Button, who claimed only his second win in 154 starts, said here on Wednesday that he is determined to rise to the challenges thrown up by Sepang, which is characterised by long straights and tight, twisting corners.
”After the amazing weekend that we experienced in Melbourne, the whole team was keen to get to Malaysia and start racing again,” said the Briton.
”However, the Malaysian Grand Prix is always one of the toughest races of the season and it will be a real challenge for our new car with so little testing under our belts.”
He pointed to the climate and the likelihood of monsoonal rain as key factors that could affect their race.
”Malaysia has a really hot and humid climate, which really tests the car’s durability and coupled with the frequent torrential downpours can make for an unpredictable race weekend,” he said.
”It’s a tough place for the drivers as the heat in the cockpit can be unbearable and tests the limit of your fitness and concentration.
”You have to work hard to find a good balance for the car at Sepang and it can be challenging for the tyres to work well for the whole lap.
”But Malaysia is a special circuit for me as I achieved my first podium here back in 2004, so I’m hoping that this weekend will provide some more happy memories.”
The experienced Barrichello, in his 17th season as a Formula One driver, said it could come down to whoever handles the conditions best, with weather forecasters predicting thunderstorms from Friday through to Sunday.
”The Malaysian Grand Prix is always a really tough race, but if you can cope well with the heat and humidity, it is a track that the drivers enjoy,” he said.
”The intense heat puts pressure on the engine, brakes and the drivers as the temperature can rise above 50 degrees in the cockpit so you have to be well-prepared and ensure you are fully hydrated.
”Our team had a really good race weekend in Australia and the car performed as we expected, however, we anticipate that our competitors to be closer this time so we will be working extra hard to improve on our performance from last weekend.”
Team principal Ross Brawn added that he knew their competitors would be working extra hard to reel in Button and Barrichello, but remained optimistic of another solid showing.
”We know that our competitors will not stand still and that the challenge will become ever more difficult from here,” he said.
”We can rise to that challenge and we have a very good and stable car which should go well around the Sepang circuit.” — Sapa-AFP