SEPANG (Malaysia), March 22: Fernando Alonso ruined Michael Schumacher’s perfect Malaysian Grand Prix qualifying record to become the youngest pole position winner in Formula One history here Saturday.

The 21-year-old shrugged off a fever to lead a superb 1-2 for Renault on the 5.543km (3.444-mile) circuit, and will now share the front row of the grid with team-mate Jarno Trulli in Sunday’s race.

Alonso clocked 1min 37.044sec, with Trulli just behind on 1:37.217, relegating the Ferrari of five-time world champion Schumacher to the second row.

It was the first time in the Malaysian Grand Prix’s five-year history that Schumacher has failed to qualify fastest, and Alonso’s performance also broke Rubens Barrichello’s record for being the youngest driver to earn an F1 pole.

Grid positions

1. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault one minute 37.044 seconds 2. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:37.217 3. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:37.393 4. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:37.454 5. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1:37.579 6. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1:37.766 7. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:37.858 8. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:37.974 9. Jenson Button (Britain) BAR 1:38.073 10. Olivier Panis (France) Toyota 1:38.094 11. Cristiano da Matta (Brazil) Toyota 1:38.097 12. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:38.289 13. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Sauber 1:38.291 14. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1:38.416 15. Antonio Pizzonia (Brazil) Jaguar 1:38.516 16. Mark Webber (Australia) Jaguar 1:38.624 17. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 1:38.789 18. Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) Minardi 1:40.417 19. Justin Wilson (Britain) Minardi 1:40.599 20. Ralph Firman (Britain) Jordan 1:40.910.—AFP