Schumacher Praises Ferrari 'Family'

German Michael Schumacher hailed the Ferrari family after claiming a record-breaking sixth World Championship in the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

Schumacher had an eventful race to eventually come home eighth to secure the one point needed to earn him a fourth successive title, with Ferrari also claiming a fifth straight constructors' crown.

His teammate Rubens Barrichello won the race to deny McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen the victory he needed to prevent Schumacher lifting the world crown, and Schumacher hailed the entire Ferrari team.

"It is more important to mention the team, they did an incredible job giving both of us a car where we have been competitive all the time," said Schumacher, who embraced Barrichello and team boss Jean Todt in parc ferme after the race.

"Rubens has a fantastic drive to win the Grand Prix and we have won the constructors' title for the fifth time in a row which I think is the first time it is has happened."

Ferrari overcame a slow start to the campaign only to suffer a mid-season slump when disappointing performances in the German and Hungarian Grands Prix prompted sceptics to write off the Italian team. But Schumacher, who admitted feeling strange to have won his title with an eighth place finish, hailed the spirit and resolve Ferrari showed to come back with victories in the final three races.

"It is very strange for me because most of my Championships have been won with a victory and now I am sitting here winning a Championship with eighth position and last of the points," he added. "It is a mixed emotion. What the team has achieved it just fantastic.

"If you see what has happened in Hockenheim and Budapest, a lot of people wrote a lot of outspoken things about us and here we are back. We never give up, we always fight and I think that is one of the big strengths of the Ferrari team and I think everybody is that way. It is a just a huge big family."