Schumacher impressed by Renault

Michael Schumacher has tipped Renault to stretch their world championship lead in tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix after a strong first qualifying performance.

Fernando Alonso set the quickest time with team-mate, and early world championship leader, Giancarlo Fisichella third ahead of tomorrow’s crucial final session.

Schumacher was way off the pace as Ferrari continue to struggle for speed over one lap, with the seven-time world champion down in 12th, two places ahead of team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

Schumacher believes his qualifying disadvantage has ended any serious hopes for victory but is still hoping to take his first points of the season.

The 36-year-old, who crashed out of the first race in Australia, said: “The race pace is pretty good so we should be able to end up in the points and hopefully even on the podium.

“This morning, honestly, we have been a bit surprised when we have seen the times go down because yesterday we were in the picture with the times.

“It will be a long and hard race so let’s see what we can do tomorrow.”

Schumacher claims former Renault driver Jarno Trulli could play a key part in aiding the team who sacked him late last season.

The Italian was a surprise second in first qualifying and Schumacher fears a repeat in the final session – after which the two lap times are aggregated to determine the grid – will scupper the hopes of Renault’s rivals.

He said: “It’s very clear that Renault and McLaren are the big ones in the race to watch.

“In the winter sometimes Toyota had been very fast on one lap but very often then the pace went down over the distance.

“If they do this tomorrow it could be good for the Renault. I think they will go in front at the start and then they can stay in front because the others will sit behind a Toyota which will be slower and slower and slower.”

Championship leader Fisichella, fresh from his second career victory in Australia, is hopeful he can stretch his advantage over Schumacher, which currently stands at 10 points.

Ferrari are using a modified version of their 2004 car again this weekend and with major improvements expected from their new machine, Fisichella is keen to take advantage of the world champions’ vulnerability.

He was third quickest today, just 0.183secs slower than team-mate Alonso, and was pleased to see Renault translate their Australian superiority to the very different confines of Sepang.

“We are still competitive, we can still fight to get on the podium and maybe to win the race again,” he said.

“Fernando is the quickest today and that means Renault is still strong even on this circuit, which is a very important circuit, so the potential is very good.

“We are optimistic for the race.”

Like Schumacher, Jenson Button is also looking for his first points of the season and the BAR-Honda driver is optimistic after finishing ninth in first qualifying.

The Englishman was a second down on Alonso’s time but with just half a second separating him from sixth-placed Mark Webber, he hopes to move up the grid in final qualifying.

Button said: “For second qualifying I have cars close to me front and back which I think is a good thing. I think we can gain more places.

“It’s just about working out our strategy because it’s very difficult to know what to do now.

“Compared to Williams and McLaren I think we are reasonably strong. Obviously I’m behind them but hopefully I can make up a bit of time tomorrow and maybe a few places.

“We had a problem with an oil leak in the first session so the second session we didn’t get to run at all. We haven’t run new tyres today so it wasn’t easy in qualifying.”

David Coulthard, who needs just three points to overtake Nigel Mansell as Britain’s leading Formula One scorer, was 11th in first qualifying.