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This is an archive article published on March 22, 2003

Schumi146;s wake-up call

Ferrari8217;s Michael Schumacher gave his Formula One rivals a wake-up call on Friday with a blistering lap in the first qualifying session...

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Ferrari8217;s Michael Schumacher gave his Formula One rivals a wake-up call on Friday with a blistering lap in the first qualifying session for Sunday8217;s Malaysian Grand Prix.

The five times world champion, pushed off the podium in Australia two weeks ago for the first time since 2001, screamed around the Sepang circuit nearly a second quicker than his closest non-Ferrari opponent.

His Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello, last out of the pit lane under the new single-lap format after being the first retirement in Melbourne, was second quickest to reassert Ferrari8217;s authority.

8220;As predicted, Michael Schumacher and Ferrari are still the benchmark,8221; commented Norbert Haug, motorsport director of McLaren8217;s partners Mercedes.

Schumacher8217;s lap of one minute 34.980 seconds was comfortably faster than his own 2002 pole time of 1:35.266 and Left him well-placed to notch up a fifth successive pole position in Malaysia in Saturday8217;s final shoot-out.

Barrichello8217;s time was 0.701 adrift of the German, a two-time winner in four races at Sepang.

8220;We had a great day today, without any mistakes and the track was quite clean,8221; said Schumacher.

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8220;My lap was neat and tidy8230;overall we are very happy with these conditions and our starting position for tomorrow8217;s qualifying.8221; Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, in a Williams, was third quickest in 1:35.939 ahead of McLaren8217;s young Finn Kimi Raikkonen. Reuters

 

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