Michael Schumacher topped first qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang, firing back at critics who doubted Ferrari are still the team to beat in F1.
The five-time World Champion and Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello finished the Friday session at the top of the time-sheets, with Williams BMW driver Juan Pablo Montoya third, nearly a second slower than Schumacher. Melbourne winner David Coulthard was fifth fastest behind team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and Renault's Jarno Trulli rounded out the top six.
Jenson Button made a solid start in his bid to out pace team-mate Jacques Villeneuve, qualifying ninth while Villeneuve could only manage a lowly 15th place. Button branded Villeneuve "pathetic" after the latest round of their tense rivalry saw the 1997 World Champion blast Button for being "weak" in the aftermath of their botched pit stop at the Australian Grand Prix two weeks ago.
Top Ten Friday qualifying times - Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang
1. Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1min 34.980secs
2. Rubens Barrichello Ferrari-Ferrari 1min 35.681secs
3. Juan Montoya Williams-BMW 1min 35.939secs
4. Kimi Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes 1min 36.038secs
5. David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes 1min 36.297secs
6. Jarno Trulli Renault 1min 36.301secs
7. Nick Heidfeld Sauber-Petronas 1min.36.407secs
8. Heinz-Harald Frentzen Sauber-Petronas 1min 36.615secs
9. Jenson Button BAR-Honda 1min 36.632secs
10. Fernando Alonso Renault 1min 36.693secs
The qualifying times from Friday will dictate the running order of qualifying proper on Saturday, with Schumacher running last.
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