Highlights

Damage limitation for Schumacher, Ferrari in China

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-09-30 18:49

SHANGHAI - Michael Schumacher thinks his hopes of an eighth world championship can survive a wet Chinese Grand Prix after being restricted to sixth on the grid by the Shanghai rain on Saturday.

The Ferrari driver needed to be at his very best just to make it into the top 10 for the final qualifying session, while his rival Fernando Alonso took pole and looks in good shape to extend his two-point lead in the title race on Sunday.

"At least we kept the damage within limits, we can still hope," said the 37-year-old German, who will retire at the end of the season. "If the weather conditions stay like this, it doesn't look very encouraging. But if it gets drier then we'll see.

"Obviously it's very difficult to talk about winning but it's a very long race. Even if we have to leave some points here, then we still have two races to go. It's difficult, it's important but still maybe not decisive."

Schumacher topped the times in Saturday's practice session but when the rain descended, the tyre problems that beset him in similar conditions at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August returned.

"In these conditions we're simply not competitive," said the seven-times world champion, who finished eighth at the Hungaroring.

"We saw a similar thing in Hungary, we have tried some new tyres but it didn't work out so now we have to live with it.

"But I'm sixth not 20th so I will definitely get as close to the top as possible although realistically if we have conditions like today, it's very difficult and there will probably be no battle (with Alonso)."

Ferrari's quest for a 15th constructors title took an even bigger blow on Saturday as Renault, who trail the Scuderia by three points with just Japan and Brazil after China, put both Spanish world champion Alonso and Italian Giancarlo Fisichella on the front row.

Schumacher's team mate Felipe Massa, however, finished 13th in qualifying and already faced a 10 place grid penalty for having an engine change on Friday.

"This was definitely not a good day," said the Brazilian, who will start at the back of the grid.

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn was left praying for better conditions for Sunday's race.

"The weather forecast for tomorrow is for only a slight chance of rain for the period of the race. Honestly we have to keep our fingers crossed and hope it turns out to be accurate," he said.