Schumacher Relishes Barrichello Challenge

Michael Schumacher celebrated a pole position hat-trick at the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday as Ferrari reserved the front row for themselves yet again.

It was the 46th pole of the dominant four-times World Champion's career and his third in a Formula One season in which he has won three out of four races.

The German's 1:16.364 lap not only shattered Jacques Villeneuve's 1997 record of 1:16.525, it was also nearly a second faster than the third-placed time set by his younger brother Ralf in a Williams.

It was also his third Spanish pole in a row, his fifth in total, and - more ominously - Schumacher has gone on to win the world title every year that he has qualified quickest in Spain.

His teammate Rubens Barrichello was fastest for most of an interrupted session but, as at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola two weeks ago, Schumacher saved the best for last. With three minutes left, Schumacher trumped the Brazilian by 0.326 of a second.

"I enjoyed this session and the fight with Rubens. It was a challenge, especially as he was quicker on the first two runs," said Schumacher. "Sometimes you think you are on the limit and your teammate shows you you're not and you have to push a bit harder. So I did."

Brazilian Barrichello, who scored his first points of the season at the San Marino Grand Prix two weeks ago, also relished the battle with his teammate.

"Just like the last one, I wish I could have been on pole," commented Barrichello. "But it's been a fair fight, it's wonderful just to push each other. Michael's having a harder time this year and I'm enjoying that. I think he is enjoying it too."