He's lubricating the dipstick to check how the levels are doing. Shoves his finger in his ear until he touches brain. I noticed too. He seemed to dig farther in there on that Thursday before Sepang. Running on fumes.
I think maybe it's a secret signal for Don Cesare to start oiling the bells in Tavullia but, anyway, a guy called Jum something? will be along in a minute, he's a big fan, knows all the about that stuff...