Michael Schumacher roared out a warning to his rivals as he dominated first qualifying for the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola today. The five-time world champion, who has suffered the worst start to a season in his 13-year Formula One career, answered his critics with a blistering lap.
Schumacher finished more than 0.4 seconds ahead of team-mate Rubens Barrichello as the Ferrari duo marked F1's return to its European heartland with an awesome display of the old car's speed. The 34-year-old who has failed to get on the podium in the three races so far will now have the advantage of running last when grid placings are determined in final qualifying tomorrow.
Schumacher's early-season mistakes and the regulation changes which have shaken up the grid have hidden the fact that the 2002 car still has the edge over its rivals. Schumacher is determined to prove that by triumphing for the tifosi, Ferrari's fans, on Sunday and begin eating into his 16-point deficit as he bids for a record sixth drivers' crown this season.
Ferrari's closest challengers today were the Williams-BMW duo Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya who finished third and fourth respectively. Schumacher junior had finished top in opening practice with his brother back in 10th place after a spin but he could not quite maintain that pace in qualifying. The under-pressure driver who scored his maiden career win in Imola two years ago finished just under 0.6secs slower than his elder sibling with Montoya the only other driver to get within a second of the reigning champion.
Australia's Mark Webber followed up scoring his and Jaguar's highest-ever qualifying place of third in Brazil a fortnight ago with the fifth fastest time. Britain's Jenson Button posted the sixth quickest as he and BAR-Honda team-mate Jacques Villeneuve unexpectedly finished ahead of championship pacesetters Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard.
Button finished 1.2secs adrift with Villeneuve just fractions further back with McLaren's Raikkonen, who leads the standings by nine points from Coulthard, 1.5secs slower in eighth spot. Coulthard posted the ninth best time although the new qualifying format makes it difficult to know what fuel loads teams were running.
Jordan's Giancarlo Fisichella, who received his Brazilian GP trophy earlier today, finished 11th quickest with team-mate Ralph Firman back in 17th.
Filed by Shane Murray
