Rubens sends tyre warning

The Brazilian, runner-up behind his team-mate Michael Schumacher at an Australian Grand Prix which was totally dominated by Ferrari, said he believes he and rubber supplier Bridgestone have found the perfect tyre for next weekend's Malaysian GP in Sepang.

If he is right, it will dash the hopes of many of Ferrari's rivals who were hoping that, like last year, the Bridgestones would not work as well in the pressing heat of Malaysia and the third GP of the year in Bahrain next month.

Barrichello told autosport.com: "It has been a good test and we really know exactly what tyre we are going to choose for Malaysia. We have got a very good compound, and I think it is going to be very strong for us."

Bridgestone took a family of eight tyre specifications to Spanish track Valencia this week, and was so determined to prove their doubters wrong in Sepang that it was reportedly at its request that Barrichello did not spend the period between the first and second grands prix of 2004 relaxing like many of his counterparts.

Engineers from the Japanese company believe the tyre picked for Malaysia last season was too soft a compound. This time, they are confident that thanks to the work carried out by Barrichello, they have found the right balance between a tyre compound soft enough to deal with hot temperatures and grippy enough for the Ferraris to repeat their crushing Melbourne performance.

Barrichello added: "I know other teams and some people in the media are hoping that we will not go as well in Malaysia as we did in Australia, but I am afraid I am just going to have to disappoint them."