Schumacher Edges Closer to Senna's Pole Record

World Champion Michael Schumacher edged closer to Ayrton Senna's Formula One qualifying record on Saturday by becoming the first driver to take pole position in Bahrain.

The Ferrari driver's third pole in this season's three races so far took his career tally to 58, just seven adrift of Senna's remarkable tally of 65. That mark remains one of the few records not in Schumacher's possession but the six times champion could equal it before the year is out.

Yet despite his success at the new Sakhir circuit, which will see an all-Ferrari front row when it hosts the first Grand Prix in the Middle East on Sunday, he repeated his scant interest in records and statistics.

"Records don't drive me, don't push me," he said. "If they happen, obviously I'm very glad they happen but that's not what I'm aiming for."

The next race after Bahrain is the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, the Italian circuit where three times champion Senna died 10 years ago, and Schumacher was asked inevitably to cast his thoughts back to that tragic afternoon.

A lump came to his throat as he considered the question.

"It's a little difficult to...I mean, anyway, once you think about it it's hard to remember what has happened," the German said, staring fixedly ahead.

"Put it this way, I don't really want to talk about it too much," added Schumacher, who won the race that day for Benetton after Senna's Williams crashed into a concrete wall at the Tamburello curve.

Main Memory

Schumacher said his strongest memory of the Brazilian remained seeing him in a kart race in 1980, before Senna made his Formula One debut with Toleman four years later.

"That's the biggest recollection I have," he said. "It was something outstanding and I don't think it's necessary to speak about what he has achieved and (done) afterwards - that is very obvious. But for me, that has been a very special moment."

In the decade since Senna's death, Schumacher has won a record 72 times and taken more titles than any other driver. Few would bet against him adding a 73rd win at Sakhir on Sunday, with Ferrari leading the grid for the second time this season.

The start of the year has been very different to the struggles of 2003, when Schumacher failed to finish on the podium in any of the first three races and was taken to the wire for the Championship.

Asked whether he felt he was now driving better than ever in his career, he replied: "I think a lot is down to the car and maybe the way I work with my engineer and everything. I just get more together.

"I do feel easier, yes, but whether it makes me faster or not faster I've no idea. The car is just easier to work with and to get the maximum out of it."