Malaysian GP – A leadership status to secure for Brawn GP?

The new Brawn GP team arrives in Malaysia with a dual role. It is first and foremost the leader in the constructor’s championship but also a ‘double leader’ in the driver’s championship with Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello occupying the top two spots in the standings.

She is then the most successful team with a pure pace that makes many stables envious. It is for these two reasons that Brawn GP arrives on the Sepang track with unwavering motivation and confidence. But beware of not burning their wings while flying, as the fall could be as spectacular as last weekend’s victory!

Jenson Button – Racing Driver

After the incredible weekend we experienced in Melbourne, the entire team was eager to head to Malaysia to start a new race. However, the Malaysian Grand Prix is always one of the most challenging events of the season. It will be a real test for our new car with so few tests conducted.

« Malaysia is characterized by very hot and humid weather. The climate there is a real test for the single-seater, especially since torrential rains are frequent and can make the weekend unpredictable. It’s a challenging circuit for drivers because the heat is at the limit of bearable in the cockpit. Your physical condition and concentration are put to the test. »

« You have to work hard to find a good balance on the car because the tires will be heavily used lap after lap. Sepang is a track for me because after Sunday, my first podium, I achieved it here in 2004. I hope the old memories will come back quickly! »

Rubens Barrichello – Racing Driver:

The Malaysian Grand Prix is always a very tough race, but if you can manage the heat and humidity, it’s a track where drivers can win. It’s a true engineering challenge to find the right balance. You need to have a car with perfect aerodynamics to achieve an acceptable lap time.

« The intense heat affects the engine, the brakes, and the engine temperature, which can reach 50 degrees in the cockpit. Our team is coming off a very good weekend in Australia. We anticipate a tightening of lap times with our competitors. We will therefore be working hard to improve our performance since the end of last week. »

Ross Brawn – Team Principal:

« The Australian Grand Prix was a fantastic experience for our team. Jenson and Rubens exceeded the forecasts set for a first race. We are capable of meeting the challenge of having a stable car. »

« As in Australia, to optimize our performance, we need to have good tests on Friday since we will face the usual reliability concerns caused by the high temperatures in Malaysia. Since the race takes place later than usual, we are expecting a bit of rain which will make the strategy for the weekend very interesting.