M. Schumacher: Don't Party Yet

Michael Schumacher warned Ferrari fans against thinking the world drivers' title was in the bag because anything could happen in a sport he compared to a 3,000-piece puzzle.

"Let's take it easy when we talk about everything being a done deal," he told Rome's La Repubblica newspaper in an interview published on Tuesday.

"As we say in Germany, it's too early to pack your bags. I never party ahead of time. I never do it. The numbers still don't put us in the clear," he said.

Schumacher led home Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello in Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix, opening an eight-point lead over McLaren's defending champion Mika Hakkinen.

With two races left in Japan and Malaysia, Schumacher is now clear favourite to land Ferrari's first drivers' crown since South African Jody Scheckter in 1979.

"It's true we have a privileged position but you should never lose concentration," he said.

Schumacher said "nothing is ever certain in Formula One", comparing it to a "puzzle with 3,000 pieces."

But he said he was optimistic. "With the Ferrari I have in my hands, I can win everywhere. I will try to do it next in Japan and then finally we can start the party."