Renault Duo Fastest in First Qualifying - Malaysia

Spaniard Fernando Alonso led a Renault one-two in Saturday's first qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix as Ferrari failed to match their rivals' pace in the searing 37-degree heat at Sepang.

Alonso's time of 1:33.193 put him just 0.071 seconds ahead of teammate Jarno Trulli, 0.259 seconds ahead of third-placed McLaren Kimi Raikkonen and 0.672 seconds clear of World Champion Michael Schumacher in fourth for Ferrari.

Australian Mark Webber finished fifth, two tenths behind Schumacher, as his Jaguar showed impressive pace late in the session to push Brazilian Rubens Barrichello down to sixth in the second Bridgestone-shod Ferrari.

Briton David Coulthard was seventh for McLaren-Mercedes, just beating compatriot Jenson Button, in the BAR-Honda. Ralf Schumacher was ninth in the lead Williams-BMW and Italian Giancarlo Fisichella completed the top-ten for Sauber.

German Schumacher, winner of the previous race in Australia, was on track first and he set a reasonable time of 1:33.865, slower than his morning practice times but good enough to beat Brazilian Barrichello who came out next.

But Spaniard Alonso, who finished third in Australia and was the first Michelin runner out on track, suddenly stunned Ferrari and Bridgestone by putting his car in front of the scarlet duo.

The Williams-BMW pair, German Ralf Schumacher and Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, were out next but neither could come close to the top time and finished 1.584 seconds and 1.748 seconds respectively off Alonso's effort.

Renault soon shocked Ferrari again, however, when Trulli put in a hot lap that placed him just 0.071 seconds behind the Spaniard and Raikkonen, running last, then pushed Schumacher down to fourth.

Italian Giorgio Pantano failed to get out of the garage in time for his first single timed lap after his wheel-less car was left sitting on the stands as his team rushed to prepare it in time for the second run.

Pos Driver Team T1 T2 Time 1. (3) Alonso Renault (M) 24.270 55.154 1:33.193 2. (7) Trulli Renault (M) 24.251 55.453 1:33.264 + 0.071 3. (20) Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 24.157 55.153 1:33.452 + 0.259 4. (1) M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 24.124 55.127 1:33.865 + 0.672 5. (18) Webber Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 24.310 55.557 1:34.016 + 0.823 6. (2) Barrichello Ferrari (B) 24.372 55.561 1:34.132 + 0.939 7. (8) Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 24.329 55.913 1:34.321 + 1.128 8. (6) Button BAR-Honda (M) 24.666 56.018 1:34.528 + 1.335 9. (4) R.Schumacher Williams-BMW (M) 24.526 56.179 1:34.777 + 1.584 10. (10) Fisichella Sauber-Petronas (B) 24.512 56.229 1:34.877 + 1.684 11. (5) Montoya Williams-BMW (M) 24.512 56.234 1:34.941 + 1.748 12. (9) Sato BAR-Honda (M) 24.492 56.134 1:34.971 + 1.778 13. (15) Massa Sauber-Petronas (B) 24.354 55.856 1:35.132 + 1.939 14. (13) Panis Toyota (M) 24.742 56.354 1:35.247 + 2.054 15. (11) Klien Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 24.743 56.309 1:35.618 + 2.425 16. (12) da Matta Toyota (M) 24.846 56.572 1:35.684 + 2.491 17. (16) Heidfeld Jordan-Ford (B) 24.858 56.928 1:36.769 + 3.576 18. (17) Bruni Minardi-Cosworth (B) 25.172 58.279 1:38.729 + 5.536 19. (19) Baumgartner Minardi-Cosworth (B) 25.292 59.241 1:39.805 + 6.612 20. (14) Pantano Jordan-Ford (B) No Time All Timing Unofficial