Schumacher Sure Alonso will Take Title

With Alonso holding a 25-point advantage over Raikkonen with three races to go, Schumacher says he has no doubts that the Spaniard has enough in hand to claim the crown.

"For me the situation is a little bit as it was in 2003, when I went into the last race with nine points more than Kimi and it was sort of very academic to lose the Championship," said Schumacher.

"It got very close in the end, but I did not expect it to happen then and I do not expect it to happen now to Fernando. I am pretty sure he will do it."

Schumacher has nothing but praise for the way that Alonso has performed this season, even though the Spaniard's Renault has had to play second best to the McLaren for much of the year.

"Fernando has had a splendid season and he did not miss many occasions to score the maximum he could in the respective races," explained Schumacher.

When asked what he believed made Alonso so special, Schumacher claimed that it was a combination of natural ability and his mature approach to races.

"First of all his talent and then his behaviour during a race," explained Schumacher. "To win a Grand Prix often is to me like a puzzle, with many parts that you have to put in the right spot.

"There are only so many drivers capable of doing that. Part of that is also his intelligence."

But Schumacher has warned Alonso that winning the world title this year will provide him with no advantages in the future.

"It is just for the records," added Schumacher. "In 2006 no one will care if you are World Champion or not. When you fight against a driver on the track, you do not think about their achievements."