Schumacher seeks blocking clarification

The Mercedes GP driver was unhappy that his efforts were hit by both Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton getting in his way during various stages of the qualifying.

And he was so upset with the way that Alonso had driven while on a slow down lap at the end of Q3, that he confronted the Spaniard in parc ferme after the session - before seeking out Whiting to discuss the matter further.

"Basically on my last try, I was slowed down by him," explained Schumacher about Alonso. "I asked him whether the team had told him [I was on a quick lap] and he said no.

"In a way it is difficult because he was on his in-lap, and he was worrying about other things than maybe watching the mirror. But saying that, we had this chat yesterday in the drivers' briefing that this should be taken care of, and actually he was one of the main guys asking about it.

"I wanted to know if the team had told him or not, and then I had a conversation with Charlie about it because I wanted to know what are the guidelines here - and whether the rules have changed a little bit to what they used to be. I [told Whiting I] need to know what would you be okay with, and what not."

When asked about Hamilton in Q2, Schumacher added: "I had a similar issue with Lewis, that he was adapting his lap and preparing his lap and blocking me in a way - which is not very nice.

"If you sit behind, you are trying your best, which I am doing at the moment, and then somebody slows you down, it is not very comfortable."

The incident between Alonso and Schumacher comes after several problems over the Australian Grand Prix weekend - where slow cars have got in the way of faster approaching rivals. BMW Sauber's Pedro de la Rosa was reprimanded after the final free practice session for impeding another driver.