BRAWN ORDERS CLEAN FIGHT IN TEAM-MATES' TITLE TUSSLE.

Byline: BYRON YOUNG

ROSS BRAWN has read the riot act to Rubens Barrichello and his engineering team as the world title fight threatened to get dirty.

There are suspicions at the world championship leaders that the Brazilian has not been sharing all technical information with team-mate Jenson Button.

That would explain why, after six successive wins in seven races, Button's domination came to a screaming halt after Turkey and he has been outqualified and outraced for the past four Grands Prix.

After the scandal of last year, the night race is again tainted with suspicions it may become a place for dark deeds.

Brawn is determined the fledgling team which carries his name will not be tainted by the same machinations that blighted his time at Ferrari - and has said so to Barrichello, Button and their engineers.

But tensions continued to rise in the 45 degree heat ahead of tomorrow's Singapore Grand Prix with the realisation Button and Barrichello (above) are racing for their futures.

Brawn are believed to have signed Nico Rosberg as part of a Mercedes engine deal next season so the team has only one seat free - and want to fill it with whichever of the duo wins the world title. The other will be out in the cold.

Button has the whip hand with a 14-point lead with four rounds to go, but he yesterday refused to be drawn on the situation at Brawn.

"I just want to be able to focus on the racing and do my job," he said. "I enjoy this circuit and I think we can get good points here. I have to have a clear mind." But having taken a pounds 5million pay cut last year and staying at a lower grade hotel this year because he is paying his own bills, Button is surprised to find himself still without a deal after six wins.

"That is another thing I don't want to talk about," he added.

"I want to get the championship done and then look at other things. They still value me . . well I hope so."

Barrichello denied he and engineer Jock Clear, who masterminded Jacques Villeneuve' title win over Michael Schumacher in 1997, are not playing fair.

"I'm not doing anything and even if I wanted to I couldn't," he said. "There are so many computers and so much telemetry from the car it's all there for everyone to see.

"If you find something you aren't going to go across the garage and say, 'Hey I've found this,' but everyone will be able to see on the telemetry what's going on. We share everything." ALL the cars have been fitted with with protective under-plates after electrical surges from trams running beneath the circuit caused gearboxes to blow last year.

CAPTION(S):

RACING FOR HIS FUTURE Button