Triple world champion Michael Schumacher took pole positionin his Ferrari in the official qualifying session for Sunday's Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix.
Schumacher, aiming for a sixth consecutive victory, including back-to-back wins in Malaysia, scorched around the Sepang circuit in one minute 35.220 seconds.
A late burst by teammate Rubens Barrichello secured a Ferrari front row, when it had appeared it would be an all Schumacher affair.
Michael Schumacher's brother Ralf, driving a Williams, had to settle for third best after outperforming the field for most of the session.
Former world champion Mika Hakkinen saved some face for McLaren-Mercedes with his final lap of 1:36.040 which boosted him to the second rowof the grid alongside Ralf Schumacher.
Jarno Trulli in a Jordan (1:36.180) and second Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya (1:36.218) will start on the third row.Frentzen in the other Jordan could only manage 9th spot while Eddie Irvine put hisJaguar into 12th.
McLaren's David Coulthard, who finished second in last year’s race could do no better than seventh quickest in qualifying.
AFP