SEPANG, Malaysia, March 22, 2008 (AFP) - Just six days after celebrating the first podium of his Formula One career, Nico Rosberg came down to earth with a bump at Sepang on Saturday.

The 22-year-old German and his Williams team were left to ponder just where it all went wrong - and to plan a strategy that can still deliver points in Sunday´s Malaysian Grand Prix.

"I just can´t believe what has happened today," said Rosberg. "I came here from a podium finish a few days ago and now I qualify 16th on the grid!

"And that is despite feeling that my last flying lap was a pretty good one.

"Our car doesn´t seem to like the new asphalt they laid on this track at all. It´s just too smooth. It doesn´t make our car work properly.

"So I am just sliding everywhere and it will be tough in the race starting from this position, but I think our car should be better in racing conditions - and maybe some rain might help."

His team-mate Japanese Kazuki Nakajima, who has a grid penalty of 10 places following his driving in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, finished 22nd and failed to qualifying beyond the first phase of qualifying.

"We will look at the strategy now and put together the best race plan we can to get the cars into the points," said technical director Sam Michael.