Michael Schumacher answered his critics in style as he blasted his way to the fastest time in the first qualifying session for the Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur this morning.
The five-time champion's relatively lowly fourth place in the season opener in Australia 12 days ago has raised questions whether Ferrari's massive superiority last season was about to end.
But Schumacher's pace on the Sepang track was as hot as the temperatures at Sepang as he spearheaded another awesome performance by the Italian team.
The 34-year-old German finished 0.7 seconds ahead of Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello and will be last out on the track tomorrow for the single-lap session that will decide grid positions for Sunday's race.
Barrichello was last on the track today with the running order decided by current championship positions but Schumacher could comfortably watch from the garage as the Brazilian got nowhere near him.
Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya led the chasing pack but his Williams-BMW was almost a second off the searing pace set by Schumacher who is bidding for a record sixth drivers' crown this year.
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen was fourth fastest with team-mate David Coulthard - who triumphed in Melbourne after Schumacher, Montoya and Raikkonen all missed the chance to win - fourth fastest but 1.3secs adrift of Schumacher.
The McLaren duo are, like Ferrari, still using last year's car while development continues on the 2003 model that Coulthard hopes will bridge the gap on Ferrari.
Last year's Malaysian winner Ralf Schumacher was way back in 13th spot in his Williams-BMW though times today only determine tomorrow's running order and do not count for grid positions in the race.
Britain's Jenson Button shrugged off the vitriolic verbal attack he endured from BAR team-mate Jacques Villeneuve last night by posting the ninth best time - 1.6secs off the pace set by Schumacher.
Villeneuve accused Button of being weak as their on-going feud simmered up though it was the former world champion who was more ragged on the track today as he finished a second slower than his fellow Honda-powered driver.
British rookies Ralph Firman and Justin Wilson were 17th and 19th respectively for Jordan and Minardi while Jaguar's Antonio Pizzonia did not go onto the track at his allotted slot and did not post a time.
PA