Schumacher Delighted with Pole Position

World Champion Michael Schumacher was visibly delighted to continue his dominant form at the Suzuka circuit on Sunday morning, after he claimed his sixth pole position in seven attempts in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.

Schumacher, who has won at Suzuka five times, missed out on pole last season to Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello but has taken the top spot in qualifying on every other occasion since 1998.

And, after becoming the sport's first ever Sunday pole winner following Saturday's cancellation of qualifying, Schumacher said: "It certainly was a very different weekend and today's circumstances were very difficult.

"Obviously, we had no free practice at all, straight into qualifying with mixed conditions, first time in the dry this weekend at all, so quite a lot of things came together and made it worth a lot to get the pole position today.

"Bridgestone obviously knows this circuit well so they have a lot of information and it wasn't too difficult to find the right choice. I guess where we are, we are not here by accident."

Schumacher spent his enforced Saturday day off with several of his fellow drivers playing football, bowling and enjoying lunch together in the Italian restaurant near the circuit.

And he added: "I have to say, whatever happened yesterday it was a fun day for us, we did quite a lot of things amongst the drivers together which I don't think has ever happened in that way."