Tokyo, Oct 09: Michael Schumacher yesterday said he would take nothing for granted at the season-closing Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, even though his nine-point lead has all but secured his record sixth world title.
"First of all, I am always ready, despite the point situation," the 34-year-old German superstar said at a sponsor event with fans here ahead of the season's final round in Suzuka on Sunday. "The nine-point lead makes me a lot safer but, on the other hand, it makes me feel a bit worried because all I can do is lose," said the Ferrari ace.
Schumacher needs one point, or ninth-place finish, to ensure his title while his nearest rival Kimi Raikkonen, the Finnish Mclaren driver, can stop him only by triumphing on the circuit where the German has proven formidable over years.
"Everybody sort of feels that the championship has been won but it is mathematically not," he said. "I'm going to be very, very careful and very focused and concentrated to do the job properly for myself and the team and for those who support me."
Schumacher has won at Suzuka five times including three in a row up to last year.



"I've won a lot at Suzuka because the layout of the circuit is very specific and suiting me personally very much," he said. "Suzuka is the number-one circuit for me with a combination of Esses (s-curves) that are just fantastic."



With a victory in Suzuka, Schumacher will overtake Argentine legend Juan Manuel Fangio's record of five F1 titles won in the 1950s.


Bureau Report