Felipe Massa is on pole position for Ferrari after Michael Schumacher suffered engine problems preventing participation in Q3
Michael Schumacher is set to start no higher than tenth on the grid for his last Grand Prix after his Ferrari suffered technical problems at the start of Saturday’s final qualifying session at Interlagos.
Schumacher was first out of the pit lane at the start of the top-ten shootout, but slowed almost immediately with a fuel pressure problem. He managed to crawl back to the pits where his car was immediately pushed back into the garage.
Mechanics frantically worked on the Ferrari for the rest of the 15-minute session, but were unable to resolve the issue in time for Schumacher to return to the track, leaving him tenth on the provisional grid without a Q3 time.
Despite the problem, Ferrari are hopeful that they may yet get away without having to change the engine. If that were to happen, Schumacher would be penalised and drop a further ten places back on the grid, effectively ending his chances of a final Formula One victory.
Schumacher had been favourite for pole, which eventually went to Ferrari team mate Felipe Massa. The team’s mixed fortunes have dented their chances of beating Renault to the constructors’ crown. Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella took fourth and sixth places respectively for the world champions
1 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:10.643 1:10.775 1:10.680 2 3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:12.035 1:11.386 1:11.299 3 8 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:11.885 1:11.343 1:11.328 4 1 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:11.791 1:11.148 1:11.567 5 11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:12.017 1:11.578 1:11.619 6 2 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:12.042 1:11.461 1:11.629 7 7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:11.713 1:11.550 1:11.695 8 16 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW 1:12.307 1:11.648 1:11.882 9 17 Robert Kubica Sauber-BMW 1:12.040 1:11.589 1:12.131 10 5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:11.565 1:10.313 no time 11 9 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 1:11.973 1:11.650 12 4 Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes 1:11.825 1:11.658 13 10 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 1:11.974 1:11.679 14 12 Jenson Button Honda 1:12.085 1:11.742 15 15 Robert Doornbos RBR-Ferrari 1:12.530 1:12.591 16 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth 1:12.855 1:12.861 17 21 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth 1:12.856 18 19 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 1:13.138 19 14 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari 1:13.249 20 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:13.269 21 23 Sakon Yamamoto Super Aguri-Honda 1:13.357 22 18 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota no time
