Motor racing-Schumacher slams Yamamoto after crash

FUJI, Japan, Sep 29 (Reuters) Ralf Schumacher hit out at Spyker's Sakon Yamamoto after a crash that prematurely ended the Toyota driver's Japanese Grand Prix qualifying session today.

Schumacher's season went from bad to worse during a rain-hit qualifying session when he locked up and slammed into the back of Yamamoto.

The German's car was too badly damaged to drive in the final two sessions and he was in no doubt where the blame lay.

''I simply expected him to move over and he didn't and by the time I realised it was too late to pull back,'' Schumacher told Reuters.

In a disastrous day for Toyota at the company-owned Fuji Speedway circuit, Schumacher ended 15th place on the grid with team mate Jarno Trulli 13th.

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton grabbed a last-gasp pole position ahead of world champion team mate Fernando Alonso.

Schumacher said he was hoping for better in Sunday's race.

''I think today the performance from the team has been very disappointing,'' he said.

''Clearly we expected more. I think it wasn't really fair conditions. In the rain anything can happen.

''The way we are, the wet race can only help us make up for it. We can only hope to diminish the damage from today.'' Toyota have mustered only 12 points this season and neither Trulli nor Schumacher have finished higher than sixth.

''It is clear that our Japanese fans and bosses in Japan expected more from us, we couldn't deliver again today and we will try to make up for it.

''There are certain limits given by the package we have, but it is clear we are better than 13th and 15th.'' REUTERS SSC KP1632