Schumacher Plays Down Renault Front Row Sweep

Michael Schumacher has played down Renault's front row lockout ahead of Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit, suggesting his Ferrari team have opted for the right strategy for the race.

"I do not want to take anything away from Renault's achievement, as they did a good job, but I hope we have the right strategy for the race, but will not know until tomorrow afternoon," said Schumacher, who finished behind Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli in today's session.

"As for the one lap qualifying, when I am on my flying lap, I do not think about the fact it is my only chance. I simply do the job. But with only having one chance, it does mean that if the car could not be fixed then I would have missed my chance to qualify.

"I am not bothered about my run of poles here being interrupted. Pole is a fantastic bonus, but the new rules mean you have to focus on the race."

Ferrari's five-times World Champion arrived at the Sepang circuit as the only driver to have started on pole position in Malaysia after setting the fastest time in qualifying for the past four years.

But race strategy now plays an important part in the process, with teams banned from refuelling between qualifying and Sunday's start and carrying different fuel loads, and Renault's showing caused a sensation.

"I'm quite happy for those guys, for their achievement," commented Schumacher. "It's one point. The other, we hope, is to have the right strategy and for it to pay out for us tomorrow. We have a very good car and therefore we have very good opportunities."

Asked whether the sport's governing body should make car weights available after qualifying to throw light on fuel strategies, Schumacher replied: "I think it would be far too boring for you guys because then you couldn't do any speculation. Now you have room for speculation."