Monte Carlo, May 30: Ferrari ruled the streets of Monte Carlo with Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher leading team mate Rubens Barrichello in first qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix. The German, seeking a record-equalling sixth win in Monaco to take over the championship lead, was a master of precision on Thursday (May 29) as he lapped the tight and twisty street circuit in one minute 16.305 seconds. Schumacher has started on pole and won the last three races in a row this season. He was well inside last year's pole time of 1:16.676, set on a slightly different circuit by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya in a Williams. Brazilian Barrichello was 0.331 behind the five-times champion to ensure that the Ferrari drivers will run last of all in Saturday's decisive one lap qualifying session that determines the starting grid. Briton Jenson Button, a Monaco resident like many of his rivals, was the best of the rest with an impressive third fastest time for BAR.


Italian Jarno Trulli underlined Renault's challenge with the fourth fastest time after less experienced Spanish team mate Fernando Alonso paid the price for errors on the unforgiving track and ended up 14th.


McLaren's David Coulthard, winner last year and in 2000, was fifth quickest while team mate and championship leader Kimi Raikkonen languished in 11th place.


The session was halted for 25 minutes to clean up oil dumped on the track by the Sauber of Heinz-Harald Frentzen, whose engine blew as he started his flying lap.


German Frentzen, who failed to start the last race in Austria due to a clutch problem, will run first on Saturday after being unable to set a time.


Mark Webber, fastest for Jaguar in the morning practice, was next out but an ominous puff of smoke came from his engine on the warming up lap and the Australian had to settle for ninth place.


Montoya had a disappointing afternoon with the eighth best time, while his team mate Ralf Schumacher was sixth.


Times in Thursday's first qualifying: 1. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari one minute and 16.305 seconds 2. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1:16.636 3. Jenson Button (Britain) BAR 1:16.895 4. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:16.905 5. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:17.059 6. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 1:17.063 7. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1:17.080 8. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:17.108 9. Mark Webber (Australia) Jaguar 1:17.637 10. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1:17.912 11. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:17.926 12. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:18.109 13. Ralph Firman (Britain) Jordan 1:18.286 14. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1:18.370 15. Antonio Pizzonia (Brazil) Jaguar 1:18.967 16. Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) Minardi 1:19.421 17. Justin Wilson (Britain) Minardi 1:19.680 18. Olivier Panis (France) Toyota 1:19.903 19. Cristiano da Matta (Brazil) Toyota 1:20.374 20. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Sauber no time


Bureau Report