Schumacher predicts battle to the wire

The Ferrari driver is 12 points behind championship rival Fernando Alonso after the Renault driver beat his German rival to second place in the Turkish Grand Prix.

The result put an end to Schumacher's positive streak, the Ferrari driver having reduced a 25-point gap to just 10 after the previous race in Hungary.

With four races remaining, Schumacher believes the battle is too close to be decided before the final race of the season.

"It is almost likely it will go to the last race, yes," Schumacher told reporters at the Monza circuit.

Schumacher defended his performance in Turkey after he was unable to find a way past Alonso despite having a quicker car than the Spaniard.

"I think we are all human, and particularly if we look at the last race, there were many drivers who made mistakes," said Schumacher.

"I was one of them, that is the way it goes. You may consider or not consider the condition why you make mistakes, but the result is what it is, you have to look from there."

The German, who will race at his team's home Grand Prix next week, is cautious about his predictions for the Monza race, and reckons the tyre performance will again be crucial in deciding the winner.

"It all depends on how the tyres are and how the car package is," added Schumacher. "It is difficult to preview how it could be."

The 37-year-old, yet to decide his future, said earlier this year he would announce his plans at the Italian Grand Prix, although on Wednesday he did not confirm that will be the case: "We will see," Schumacher said.

Asked if this could be his last race in Monza, Schumacher said: "Could be."