Brawn: Tyres are the key in Sepang

On the eve of the race weekend, Brawn believes that Ferrari has struck the right balance between its Bridgestone tyres being quick and durable.

"The track in Malaysia absorbs the heat and is very severe on the tyres," he said. "You need a softer tyre to get the grip, but it cannot be too soft because of the heat. It's a bit of a compromise. We have had to work on a new compound philosophy with a more durable tyre in the heat, while the new regulations means that the tyres do not have to have as long a life as they did for a one-stop race strategy."

Brawn also thinks that the race could be thrown into chaos this weekend as thunderstorms are predicted.

"Malaysia can have a sudden monsoon downpour during the race and be dry again 10 laps later," he added. "With only one rain tyre it is impossible to cater for all eventualities.

"You either choose a deep grooved full wet which can be dangerous and start chunking when the track begins to dry or you choose a shallow groove intermediate tyre and their will be cars falling off the road in heavy rain. We have chosen a compromise between the two that we have developed during wet weather testing during the winter, but it is not the ideal solution."