Ferrari's Michael Schumacher fended off Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya today to take pole position for tomorrow’s Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix.
The four times world champion remains the only driver to start on pole in Malaysia, having out-qualified all his rivals in every race at Sepang since the circuit's championship debut in 1999. He has also won two of the three races.
Schumacher's time of one minute 35.266 seconds on a hot and sticky afternoon was slower than his 2001 pole record of 1:35.220 but 0.231 faster than Montoya's in the quicker of the two Williams.
Ralf Schumacher qualified on the second row with the fourth fastest time and will start alongside the Ferrari of Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who was third quickest.
McLaren filled the third row, with Finland's Kimi Raikkonen a fraction ahead of team mate David Coulthard.
The Jordan’s of Giancarlo Fisichella and Takuma Sato are 9th and 15th respectively.
1.Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari one minute 35.266 seconds
2.Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:35.497
3.Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1:35.891
4.Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 1:36.028
5.Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:36.468
6.David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:36.477
7.Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1:37.199
8.Jenson Button (Britain) Renault 1:37.245
9.Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1:37.536
10.Mika Salo (Finland) Toyota 1:37.694
11.Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Arrows 1:37.919
12.Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:37.920
13.Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:38.039
14.Felipe Massa (Brazil) Sauber 1:38.057
15.Takuma Sato (Japan) Jordan 1:38.141
16.Enrique Bernoldi (Brazil) Arrows 1:38.284
17.Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) Jaguar 1:38.374
18.Olivier Panis (France) BAR 1:38.390
19.Allan McNish (Britain) Toyota 1:38.959
20.Eddie Irvine (Britain) Jaguar 1:39.121
21.Mark Webber (Australia) Minardi 1:39.454
22.Alex Yoong (Malaysia) Minardi 1:40.158