Schumacher: I’m going to Suzuka to win

Schumacher leads McLaren's Mika Hakkinen by eight points, with 10 available for a win and six for a second place. Should the Finn win both the Japanese and Malaysian Grands Prix, then the German only has to follow him home to bring the title back to Maranello for the first time since Jody Scheckter in 1979. But if Schumacher wins in Suzuka, it becomes mathematically impossible for Hakkinen to snatch a third consecutive title.

"I will be going to Suzuka to win and to try and tie up the title before the final race," said an unequivocal Schumacher. "We have seen in the past what can happen in the final races of the year.

"Suzuka will be like any other race," he added. "We cannot afford to relax and start thinking the championship is won until it is a reality."

Schumacher is a two-time winner at Suzuka, but Hakkinen has won the last two races at the track, but the 3.64-mile circuit provides one of the biggest challenges on the F1 calendar and Schumacher is happy that it provides the stage for a potential world title showdown.

"I really enjoy racing at Suzuka," he says. "Apart from the chicane, the track has a good flow to it, especially the tricky S-curves after the first corner. For excitement, the ultra-fast 130R corner on the return leg of the circuit is up with La Source and Blanchimont in Spa. If you get a good rhythm and a quick lap time, then for a driver it's one of the most satisfying circuits we race at."