Pirro to be steward, Valsecchi to test Lotus

Emanuele Pirro will make his second appearance as an F1 steward this weekend in Malaysia.

As an Italian, his debut in the role at the Abu Dhabi finale last year was controversial, given Ferrari’s contention for the 2010 world championship.

49-year-old Pirro won Le Mans 4 times, contested 40 grands prix with Benetton and Scuderia Italia between 1989 and 1991, and was also McLaren’s test driver in 1988.

He will also be the driver-representative steward in Shanghai, held one week after Malaysia.

Meanwhile, another Italian - GP2 driver Davide Valsecchi - will be in action at the wheel of Heikki Kovalainen’s Lotus in initial Friday practice at Sepang.

"I hope not to make mistakes," he told Autosprint, referring to Karun Chandhok’s crash within three corners of his out-lap at the wheel of Jarno Trulli’s T128 in Melbourne.

"I will not create problems like that for the team," the 24-year-old promised.