By Nick Sparkes
August 26 2006

Saturdays all or nothing knockout qualifying session saw Toyota's Ralf Schumacher make it into the final ten, whilst teammate Jarno Trulli was knocked out in the second phase. But with Ralf taking a ten place drop because of an engine change, neither Toyota will start in the top ten. Both Toyota's made it through the first phase of Qualifying with no issues, Jarno Trulli topped the times at one point, with each of the two drivers making it through the first knockout phase cleanly. The second phase was more disappointing, Jarno Trulli struggled with under steer and missed the cut by only a handful of tenths and finished thirteenth, behind the two BMW-Saubers and the Red Bull Racing of Christian Klien. Ralf Schumacher on the other hand made it through into the final ten.

As ever Ralf never featured in the fight for pole position, although a late run saw him as high as third as all the drivers completed their final run, but with the two Renault's improving, Ralf was pushed back into fifth, which will become fifteenth on tomorrows grid.

Elsewhere the only real action of the qualifying session came in the final few minutes, with Michael Schumacher on provisional pole after a scruffy lap, the German looked a tad at sea as the rest of the field started their final attempts. With Felipe Massa, Giancarlo Fisichella, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button looking threatening in the middle sectors the timing screen looked set to become a fruit machine as it awaited the final times. Massa went fastest, with Fisichella and Alonso missing out by only a few tenths, with Button also putting in a slow final sector. But it was Felipe Massa who took a surprise pole position, the first of his career, but be sure that Michael Schumacher wont be far behind as he starts alongside his teammate, whilst Alonso leads Renault's charge as they lock out the second row.