Saturday March 16th, 2002

World Champion Michael Schumacher has played down suggestions that Ferrari's Bridgestone tyres will suffer in the heat of Sepang during Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.

The German secured pole position ahead of Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who will compete on Michelin rubber, but insisted his tyres will not hamper him in temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius.

"I wouldn't think so," Schumacher said when asked about whether his tyres will struggle for performance in the heat. "We are pretty much prepared for hot conditions.

"We have suffered at some stage last year, but I believe we have picked up and for me the factor is that maybe the other competitor (Michelin) seemed to struggle in Australia, in particular, as they have done in previous years and our tyres are pretty consistent.

"We did not suffer in Australia and we didn't here and we are pretty stable and we shouldn't suffer in the heat either."

Schumacher claimed Ferrari have made a "very good" tyre choice for Sunday's race at Sepang and said the Italian team benefit from the fact the Michelin runners have to run-in their tyres.

"Obviously in our tyre situation we don't have to prepare tyres for the race," he added. "That's why, compared to our competitors, who seem to have to run-in their tyres, and prepare them for the race, there is no need for us to be concerned.

"I think our tyres choice is a very good one especially for tomorrow. So I am pretty confident."

Published at 10:52:34 GMT