News On F1 - Formula 1 News, Results, Information and Statistics

Formula 1 Store
F1 Tickets, Tours, Gear
F1 Books
& Biographies

Formula 1 News - April, 2009
Smoke but no fire for Brawn on Saturday

F1 Merchandise
Main Page
Formula 1 News
2011 F1 Schedule
2011 F1 Line-up
F1 Teams
F1 Drivers
10 'n' Pole
Register - Submit
F1 Regulations
The Forums
Live F1 Coverage
Motorsport Shop
UK - USA
Motorsport Calendar

F1 Merchandise UK
F1 Merchandise USA

F1 Tours
F1 Tickets
F1 Diecast
F1 Videos
F1 Games
F1 Trivia
NewsOnF1 on Twitter
NewsOnF1 Blogs
MotoGP Tickets
Past Formula 1 Seasons
2010 F1 Results
2009 F1 Results
2008 F1 Results
2007 F1 Results
2006 F1 Results
2005 F1 Results
2004 F1 Results
2003 F1 Results

2002 F1 Results

2001 F1 Results

2000 F1 Results

1999 F1 Results

1998 F1 Results

1997 F1 Results
Links
Translate
Search
Contact Us
About
Archives
Your Say
Diagnosis & Prognosis
By the Heretic
Controversy Corner
The Real Race
By the Quali-flyer
F1 Testing
F1 Team Reports
8 'n' Pole
2010 World Cup
2006 World Cup


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".

Discuss this topic on NewsOnF1 Forums

10 'n' Pole Competition - Register

Latest Formula 1 News Headlines
14 Apr: F1 should 'applaud' Pirelli 'risk' for 'show' - de la Rosa
14 Apr: Stuck tells Mercedes to design 'new chassis'
14 Apr: Happy Buemi pushes to keep Toro Rosso seat
14 Apr: McLaren lineup good for 'five more years' - Whitmarsh
14 Apr: Di Resta gets initial practice for first time in 2011
14 Apr: Reports say Sam Michael's Williams role in doubt
14 Apr: Andretti opposes 2013 rules, Todt visits Ferrari
14 Apr: Kovalainen not looking for Team Lotus switch
14 Apr: Red Bull step 'significant' for Shanghai - Marko
14 Apr: Chinese official calls Vettel 'Fernando Alonso'
14 Apr: F1 teams warned before Shanghai race
13 Apr: Ecclestone decides 3pm GP start on India visit
13 Apr: Bahrain steps up push for new 2011 GP date
13 Apr: Interlagos run-off to be ready for 2011 race
13 Apr: Sepang 'fascinating' not confusing - Coulthard
13 Apr: Virgin must speed up to stay ahead of HRT - Glock
13 Apr: Razia and Valsecchi to drive Lotus cars on Friday
13 Apr: Horner vows to get Webber back into 2011 fight
13 Apr: Montezemolo wants Alonso for PM, no job for Massa
13 Apr: Hulkenberg eyes 2012 Force India race seat

The latest Formula 1 News

Back to the main news page

Back To Top


 
F1 Tickets
2011 Chinese F1 GP
2011 Canadian F1 GP
2011 Spanish F1 GP
MotoGP Tickets
2011 Spanish MotoGP
2011 Catalunya MotoGP
2011 French MotoGP
more Motorsport Tours & Holidays

Official 2010 F1 Season Review

Autocourse 2010 Annual

F1 Merchandise US

F1 Merchandise UK

Formula 1 Yearbooks


Ayrton Senna

Past Formula 1 Drivers