Schumacher delighted with Ferrari form

While Ferrari swept the front row, with Schumacher's Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa taking pole position for the second time in his career, champion Alonso qualified fifth and behind both the Toyotas.

Schumacher, retiring at the end of the season as the most successful driver the sport has ever seen, will clinch the title on Sunday if he wins and Alonso fails to score.

"It's been a great weekend so far for us," beamed Schumacher. "We are looking strong, we are on the first row and we have the Renaults on the third row and that's a very good starting place for the race."

Ferrari, who have won six of the last seven races, use Bridgestone tyres while Alonso was the leading Michelin driver.

"The weekend was supposed to be dry from today on...so we are looking pretty confident in that area and we see on the Bridgestone side that we are very strong and so are the Toyotas," said Schumacher.

"That's a very good position for us, considering the race and the championship."

The German can expect Massa to let him through for maximum points at one of the Ferrari great's favourite circuits, where he has won six times before.

"I'm pretty happy where I am and he did a great job," said Schumacher. "We are not fighting that much against each other, we are working together and therefore I'm happy it's him."