- Michael Schumacher salvaged third position after a first corner incident enforced pitstop repairs and a difficult run back up the field, while Rubens Barichello suffered engine failure mid race.

race

As the front row pair of Michael Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya headed away from the green light, contact was made as Schumacher cut across in front of Montoya to defend his position, and the resulting front wing damage forced the ferrari driver to pit, rejoining in last place, while Montoya dropped to ninth.

Meanwhile Rubens Barichello inherited the lead, stretching out a gap in the early part of the race ahead of Ralf Schumacher ( Williams-BMW ) and the McLaren pair of Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard.

Michael Schumacher was slowly cutting through the field, however he was lapping three seconds a lap slower than his team mate and race leader, implying that the first corner damage had caused further chassis and handling problems. Montoya, meanwhile received a stop-go penalty for his part in the incident.

Barichello was on a two stop strategy and came in on lap 25 for his first pitstop allowing Ralf Schumacher, appearing to be on a one stop into the lead.

Kimi Raikkonen retired shortly after with flames coming out of his McLaren's Mercedes engine, allowing Barichello back into second ahead of Heidfeld's Sauber and the recovering Montoya. Schumacher was up to eighth just behind Fellipe Massa.

Ralf Schumacher's single pitstop saw him come back onto the track in second, three seconds behind Barichello, with the Ferrari driver still scheduled to make another stop.

Barichello then pitted, rejoining in second, but only six seconds ahead of Montoya, while Schumacher takes Heidfeld for 5th, and Mark Webber deposits his Minardi into a gravel trap, ending his afternoons race.

Montoya pits, rejoining behind Jenson Button ( Renault ), just as Rubens Barichello's afternoon ends with smoke erupting from the Ferrari's engine.

Schumacher makes his third pitstop, his second scheduled rejoining in fourth, behind brother Ralf, Button and Montoya.

Ralf Schumacher has now extended his lead to fifty seconds, Montoya passes Button for second allowing Williams to complete a one-two finish, and as Jenson Button hits problems on the final lap, Michael Schumacher eases through to claim the final podium position.

race result:

3rd Michael Schumacher ( Ferrari F2001 ) +01.01.795

Michael Schumacher wrapped up his fourth Malaysian pole position with a fastest lap of 1:35.266, bettering Juan Pablo Montoya in the Williams-BMW by just over two tenths of a second, the Colombian eventually postiong a best time of 1:35.497. Rubens Barichello took third place away from Ralf Schumacher in the other Williams-BMW late on in the session.

Alex Yoong, on his home debut, and Mark Webber, had a steady practice, lining up their Minardis on the final row of the grid.
 
 
 

qualifying:

1st Michael Schumacher ( Ferrari F2001 ) 1:35.266
3rd Rubens Barichello ( Ferrari F2001 ) 1:35.891
21st Mark Webber ( Minardi PS02 ) 1:39.454
22nd Alex Yoong ( Minardi PS02 ) 1:40.158