Irvine pledges to punish Mika errors

The Ulsterman trails the world champion by just two points going into the penultimate round of the world championship at Sepang.

Hakkinen and his McLaren team have squandered 54 points since the start of the season and Irvine is determined one more slip will cost them the title.

'Weve got to make sure that if Mika screws up we are there to nail him,' he said after flying into Kuala Lumpur from a pre-race holiday at Phuket in Thailand.

'Mika has the advantage because he has two points more and he has won whenever he has finished. We are the underdogs.'

Irvine cannot win the title this weekend but Hakkinen can if he wins the race and Irvine finishes outside the top four so he wants to force the championship to the last race in Japan in two weeks time.

'I have not got a goal for Sepang except to take the championship to Suzuka. If I finish fourth it goes to Japan even if Mika wins.

'And if I win in Japan and Mika doesn't score then I win the world title.

'If that happens I don't care if I finish first, second, third or fourth here.

'I'm not thinking about the world title, just about this race.'

Irvines chances are boosted by testing developments which have armed him with the fastest car he has had all season and the return of Schumacher which he described as the 'ace in the pack' that would rattle rivals McLaren.

'We have made the biggest step in car development we have made all year are coming here with the best car we have had all year.

'Its fantastic Michael is coming back.'

'I've pushed Ross Brawn and Montezemelo very hard to try and get him back.

'We have made a good team for three and half years and there is no-one better to help you win the world championship than Michael, that's for sure.

'We have worked together so long we both have very different ideas. Sometimes he is right and sometimes I am. We are a good balance.

'And Michael being here will make it harder for the McLarens - in fact it will make it harder for everyone - except hopefully - me.

'He brings great driving ability. He can carry the car. If there I anyone who can beat Hakkinen and the McLarens its Michael.'