Monaco GP Saturday Ferrari notes

Monte Carlo, 15th May

Michael Schumacher: second, 1m 20.611, 11 laps Eddie Irvine: fourth, 1m 21.011, 12 laps

Jean Todt "It was a great qualifying session. Michael did his best time on his second run, but was slowed on his third by another car. Then on his final run, with Hill stopped on the track and the yellow flags being waved, it was obvious he could not improve and Michael drove a cautious lap. The cars worked well and the team did a good job to get Michael out on the track in the spare car. Eddie also had a good qualifying session to get onto the second row of the grid. The race will be hard and intense, but I think we can get a good result."

Michael Schumacher "It was unfortunate that I damaged my car at the end of the morning session as the spare car wasn't quite as good. But the difference between them was very small as we improved it through the session. I was blocked by another car on my third run and on my fourth run I had to slow down at the Tabac corner because of yellow flags, so I could not improve. I am pretty satisfied as the car has worked well all weekend. So I am quite confident for tomorrow's race."

Eddie Irvine "I made a mistake on my penultimate run but my last one was very good. But not good enough. I was losing time in the first section as I had a lot of understeer though Casino Square. We are much closer to our main competitors and we are running at their pace. Usually, I make very good starts, but on this circuit it is difficult to make up any places as the track is so narrow."

Chassis: Schumacher no. 192, Irvine no. 191 Temperatures: air 20 C, track 35 °C