Stewart told Brawn not to sack Barrichello for Hamilton

Brawn GP should not sack Rubens Barrichello in favour of reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton, Sir Jackie Stewart has warned.

Ahead of McLaren's appearance on sporting fraud charges at the World Motor Sport Council later this month, it is speculated that a negative result could cause Hamilton to quit the British team.

It is becoming clear that - if found guilty on the disrepute charge - the most likely sanction for McLaren is suspension for multiple races, which could also trigger the 24-year-old and his furious father and manager Anthony's departure.

The only team linked with the potentially on-the-market Hamilton so far is the dominant Brawn, already powered by McLaren's engine partner Mercedes-Benz, who are annoyed about the scandal so soon after the 'spy-gate' saga of 2007.

With Jenson Button leading the World Championship, it is suggested amongst the speculation that the most likely Brawn driver to move over for Hamilton would be the veteran Rubens Barrichello.

But Stewart, who between 1997 and 1999 employed the Brazilian racer at his own F1 team, said: "Rubens is very experienced in the setting up of the car, Lewis is not."

"And Ross (Brawn) needs that knowledge right now because of the ban on in-season testing," he added.