Schumacher Happy to be Using F2002

World Champion Michael Schumacher said his Ferrari team took the right decision to take the new F2002 to the Brazilian Grand Prix, despite losing out to rival Juan Pablo Montoya in today's qualifying.

"The old car for sure is not faster than the new car," he said after setting the second quickest time in the session with the new machine. "I don't know what position I would have been in with the old car today."

The German, who could secure his 100th podium finish on Sunday, said the F2002 was still far from reaching its maximum potential and claimed that his Bridgestone tyres were not a match for the Michelin rubber used by their rivals.

"We have not got the maximum potential out of it yet," said Schumacher of the F2002. "I don't think the gap between my times and the Williams is a fair reflection of the performance difference between the cars. Maybe in three or four races time, we will be able to judge the car's true level, excluding the tyre factor.

"On this track, we did not have the upper hand with our tyres and we have to accept it. I am relatively happy with second place and it is a shame that Rubens is further back. For tomorrow I expect a hard, hot, exhausting and interesting race."

Teammate Rubens Barrichello, still using the old car, saw his hopes of a top slot effectively vanish in the morning when he drove through a red light at the end of the pitlane in free practice.

The Brazilian, who has failed to finish in his home race for the past seven years and will be starting his 150th Grand Prix, was reported to stewards who stripped him of his fastest lap in qualifying.

"As far as the penalty for this morning is concerned, all I can say is that it was impossible for me to see the red light from where I was," said the Brazilian, who qualified eighth. "I didn't make a final run as I knew it would change nothing in terms of grid position.

"It certainly won't be easy starting from the fourth row, but it will be a long hard race so I am confident all the same."