Unhappy Ralf hoping for better race

The Toyota driver, who has struggled to match his teammate Jarno Trulli's pace this season, continued with his low-key campaign, failing to make it past Q1 for the second Grand Prix in a row.

Schumacher, with just one point scored so far this season, will start from 20th position after admitting he struggled with the handling of his car.

"That was a very disappointing and difficult session for me," admitted the German. "Qualifying around Monaco with 22 cars on such a twisty track at once is always difficult and Q1 was made a bit trickier with the rain just before the session started which affected the track conditions.

"Unfortunately I was not really content with my set-up and I did not make it to Q2 so of course I am not happy. That's the way it goes at Monaco sometimes.

"It's unfortunate we will start so far down on the grid on a track like this where overtaking is so hard but we'll just try to do the best job possible in the race tomorrow."  

Toyota's poor day was completed by Jarno Trulli, the Italian failing to make it to the top 10 shootout for the first time this season.

"That was a difficult day for us," said Trulli. "First of all we knew that in these conditions, after the rain earlier today, the track was not rubbered in and in that situation we struggle a bit compared to the others. I then had several problems during Q2.

"First, when I was on a quick lap at the end of the session, I had traffic and that cost me more than a second in the last sector.

"In the last run I had a problem with the brakes, I could not push any more because it was too dangerous. It will be difficult in the race because overtaking is so hard here but I will give it my all tomorrow."