Under Formula 1’s exciting new qualifying system, Trulli was actually fourth quickest in the first 15-minute session and seventh in the second, meaning that he comfortably qualified for the top 10 shoot-out. Unfortunately, an electronics problem meant that the team took the decision not to run in the final session to allow more flexibility with race strategy.

Schumacher said: “It’s great for the team to qualify in the top six after our difficult start to the year and the car felt good. The circuit has been quite slippery, with variable conditions so far, and I think we have done a good job. Hopefully we can translate this into a strong race performance and follow up Malaysia with more points.”

Trulli added: “I’m glad that we showed some good pace today but it has been an unlucky weekend so far for me. On my last run I had an electronic problem and damaged my wing when I ran over some debris. We did not go out at all in the last session to give ourselves a few more options for the race.”

The Australian circuit, on an interesting layout in Melbourne’s Albert Park, produced what one driver described as a ‘manically exciting’ qualifying hour, with red flags in both the first and second periods, leaving teams and drivers scrambling to put in fast last-minute laps.

Jenson Button gave Honda its first pole position since Monza 1968 with a lap in 1m25.229s, while Mild Seven Renault F1 Team drivers Giancarlo Fisichella (1m25.635s) and world champion Fernando Alonso (1m25.778s) line up second and third. Kimi Raikkonen (1m25.822s) and Juan Pablo Montoya (1m25.976s) qualified fourth and fifth quickest for Team McLaren Mercedes, ahead of Schumacher’s Toyota TF106 (1m26.612s).

Panasonic Toyota Racing Technical Director, Chassis, Mike Gascoyne, said: “Ralf’s performance was very solid and as best Bridgestone qualifier I think we can be reasonably happy. I’m disappointed for Jarno because he broke fifth gear on the ‘in’ lap of the second session. He actually had an electronic problem in the first session and we think he might have damaged the gear then. It was a shame because he was looking very competitive and I think we could have had both cars in the top six.”

In the season-opening race in Bahrain the team had problems getting its tyres into the correct temperature operating window to maximise grip. Track conditions in Melbourne today were once again cooler than expected, but Gascoyne explained: “Ralf was pretty happy with the last set of rubber that he used and the tyres look very consistent for the race. Bridgestone brought a new family of compounds to the last test and we have to say thank you to them for the development they’ve done because, clearly, in these cooler conditions it really worked for us. We will now look ahead to the race and hope to score points with both cars. We’ve been saying where the car can be and it’s nice to actually put it there.”