Schumacher, Raikkonen Remain Philosophical

World Champion Michael Schumacher and front-running rival Kimi Raikkonen remained upbeat despite seeing their hopes of victory in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix virtually wiped out in Saturday's first qualifying session.

Ferrari driver Schumacher finished 24.760 seconds off the pace after heavy rain hit the track when he was on the out-lap for his first qualifying lap and he is now certain to start from well down on the grid.

Raikkonen, who had been one of the favourites for victory ahead of the event, was left to reflect on an opportunity missed after he went out in the rain as the penultimate runner and finished 11.826 seconds down in tenth.

Schumacher was the most unlucky and admitted: "Had it just been a bit of rain it would have been good but it is difficuly to know what is happening with the weather.

"We have been lucky in the past, so...At least you are forced to go in the way you do it, so you can't be blamed for it. If you were waiting around for a better spot you would have to blame yourself for it."

There will be little chance for either driver to fight back in the second qualifying session, the times from which will add to the first to decide the grid, unless their luck turns as much as the weather did on Saturday.

But Raikkonen remained philosophical and said: "There is nothing we can change. It was unlucky but it is okay. It is not very nice when it happens like this but it can be different for the other races."

But the Finn, whose teammate Juan Pablo Montoya finished just behind him in 11th, said: "It has basically destroyed the weekend but you never know what will happen in the second qualifying."