On This Day: Ferrari frustrated despite Schumacher sealing 150th pole

Michael Schumacher's dominance of Sepang was snapped on this day 16 years ago, despite securing a 150th pole position for Ferrari. The milestone moment came for the Scuderia on the Saturday, but there were fewer celebrations a day later, despite the name Schumacher appearing on the top step of the podium...

Schumacher had qualified on pole in the three previous Malaysia races since its introduction to the world championship calendar and it was no different at the fourth time of asking.

The Williams pair of Juan Pablo Montoya and Schumacher's brother Ralf qualified second and fourth respectively, with the second Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello third.

Montoya and Michael infamously tangled at the first corner to put Barrichello and Ralf ahead. The Colombian was controversially handed a drive-through penalty, which would ultimately cost him victory.

"I think we have seen far more extreme situations where nothing has happened. We do not seem to have a very consistent situation. That is something we may all want to improve in future."

No, those weren't the words of Montoya, but it was the assessment of Michael Schumacher, who was frustrated with his rival's punishment, despite the collision costing him a potential victory as he hobbled back to the pits without a front wing.

Barrichello was unable to hold off the rapid Ralf Schumacher before his engine blew with 16 laps to go, but most of the attention was further back as Michael and Montoya carved their way back through the field.

Montoya would ultimately get to second, before cruising home more than half a minute behind his team-mate to complete a Williams one-two.

Michael Schumacher looked set for a fourth-place finish until a rear-suspension failure on Jenson Button's Renault allowed the champion in for a podium finish.

Remarkably, the third-place standing was Michael Schumacher's worst result of the season as he dominated everyone to seal a fifth world title.