The rain washed out Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro's chances of good grid positions for tomorrow's sixteenth round of the Formula 1 World Championship. Overcast skies finally delivered their promise just in time for the two o'clock start to the session. Unfortunately, the tyres used by Ferrari did not suit the wet track conditions as well as those of our strongest rivals. In fact, Michael Schumacher's performance in wrestling his 248 F1 onto the third row of the grid in sixth place is possibly one of his most impressive Saturday afternoon performances we have witnessed for a long time. Several cars flew off the track in the treacherous conditions and Felipe Massa bravely fought the conditions to post the 13th fastest time, which meant he did not qualify for the final part of the session.

However, as a result of the engine change made on his car between yesterday's two sessions, the Brazilian takes a ten place penalty which means he therefore will start from the back of the grid. With the Prancing Horse handicapped by the conditions, Renault was able to get a clean shot at the front row, with pole position going to reigning world champion Fernando Alonso and second place to Giancarlo Fisichella, who survived a very long slide across the gravel trap on his way to the front of the grid. Row Two is also the property of just one team with the Hondas of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button, while Michael has his 2007 replacement, Kimi Raikkonen just ahead of him on Row Three. While the skies are still dark above the Shanghai International Circuit, there is a ray of light for tomorrow in that the forecast is for only a very slight chance of rain at the time the race is on. In dry conditions the 248 F1 has been comfortably quick and in the past, we have seen both our drivers capable of making up ground from poor grid positions, even if overtaking is not the easiest of operations on this demanding track.

Jean Todt: "This was a very difficult qualifying session because of the weather conditions that did not suit our package. Michael drove exceptionally well and sixth place is the best he could do. We have limited the damage but of course it is disappointing that we are unable to exploit the potential at our disposal, given how things went in this morning's free practice. Felipe also did his best, but because of his engine change, he will have to start from the back of the grid.
 

"However, one should never forget that the final word of a Grand Prix comes only on Sunday afternoon, after the race. Apart from the usual parameters - reliability, strategy, tyre performance, team work and driver performance - we will also have to take into account how the weather situation evolves."

Michael Schumacher: "We did the best we could in these conditions as our chances were damaged by the rain and sixth was the best I could do. You could call it a damage limitation operation. We still have the race ahead of us and from the third row of the grid, we can still aim for a good result, given that in the dry, we have proved to be very competitive. This qualifying session has not compromised my chances of winning the world championship. Apart from tomorrow's race, there are still two Grands Prix to go and everything is still possible."

Felipe Massa: "This was definitely not a good day. First off, I was starting with the handicap that I would be penalised with a ten place drop down the grid after the engine change and then the weather conditions certainly didn't help me. Obviously we are hoping that we won't have a wet race tomorrow, otherwise we will struggle. However, in the dry, the car is good and if those are the conditions we race in, then I can still hope to finish in the points."

Ross Brawn: "A great performance from Michael on a day when the rain made life very difficult for us. Compared with the race in Budapest, we along with Bridgestone have made progress in these conditions, but still not enough to be competitive compared to the best teams running different tyres to us. A shame as in this morning's dry free practice we saw that our package worked really well. 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!"

Qualifying: Michael Schumacher: 6th 1.45.775 9 laps chassis 255; Felipe Massa: 13th 1.45.970 9 laps chassis 256; Temperature: air 22°C track 23°C