Schumacher says error was genuine

Schumacher, who could equal Brazilian Ayrton Senna's record of six wins in the Mediterranean principality, claimed his 67th career pole in controversial circumstances.

The seven times world champion ran wide and stopped on the exit to the penultimate corner in the closing seconds of the final session, with Fernando Alonso and others still to complete their final flying laps behind him.

"Unfortunately I just locked up and ran wide," said Schumacher. "I wasn't sure what was going on after this. The position of the other cars I wasn't aware. I checked with the guys where we were and they said P1. I wasn't expecting to be sitting here.

"We didn't look very good on Thursday. Today we were back on the pace. I'm pretty happy."

Furious Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said it looked like Schumacher had done it on purpose.

"He's just parking the car," Briatore told ITV television. "This is the way Ferrari manage."

Schumacher's pole is in doubt, however, after it was put under investigation by the race stewards.

The governing body could not confirm reports that Renault were protesting in an attempt to have Schumacher stripped of his fastest lap.