Schumacher Hoping for Dry Saturday

World Champion Michael Schumacher is hoping for a dry second qualifying following today's impressive showing at the Sepang circuit.

Ferrari's Schumacher gave his Formula One rivals a wake-up call with a blistering lap. The five times World Champion, pushed off the podium in Australia two weeks ago for the first time since 2001, screamed around the Sepang circuit nearly a second quicker than his closest non-Ferrari opponent.

Schumacher's lap of 1:34.980 was comfortably faster than his own 2002 pole time of 1:35.266 and left him well-placed to notch up a fifth successive pole position in Malaysia in Saturday's final shoot-out.

Schumacher, ousted from the championship lead for the first time since September 2000, will be the last driver to start Saturday's session, and the German is hoping the track stays dry for his run.

"We had a great day today, without any mistakes and the track was quite clean," said German Schumacher at the end of the day. "My lap was neat and tidy. We had a very good set-up having made improvements to the car in the break between the two sessions.

"Overall we are very happy with these conditions and our starting position for tomorrow's qualifying and I am looking forward to it. I just hope there is no rain, even though I am fully aware there is always a chance of a downpour here."

His Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello, last out of the pitlane under the new single-lap format after being the first retirement in Melbourne, was second quickest to reassert Ferrari's authority. Barrichello's time was 0.701 adrift of the German, a two times winner in four races at Sepang.

"It was quite a good day today," said Barrichello. "It is really hot out on the track, which seems to be getting better and better all the time. I feel good about it because we tried a lot of things.

"Right now the car is not at its best, but there are some things we plan to try tomorrow morning. That way we will be ready for the afternoon. I am happy to be on the provisional front row."