Michael Schumacher thought his Shanghai curse was about to strike again when the rain fell on the qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix.

But instead it was third time lucky for the Ferrari driver as he ended his drought at the Shanghai International Circuit yesterday, winning at a track where he had failed to finish among the points in Formula One's two previous visits.

Schumacher's victory took him to the top of the drivers' championship standings ahead of Fernando Alonso with just two races remaining as he finally buried his Shanghai hoodoo.