Schumacher to go out in 'classic style'

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn said on Friday that he believed the 37-year-old German would show more of the brilliance that clinched a memorable win in China last weekend in the final two races of the season.

"There was a period I believe when Michael was wrestling with his (retirement) decision, but I think you saw his performance in China was classic Michael," Brawn told reporters at the Japanese Grand Prix.

"If he can perform like that in the last two races it would be fantastic and I think he will. His head's clear now, he knows what he's doing and he is very focused on this championship."

Last month, Schumacher announced at Ferrari's home Italian Grand Prix that this season would be his last. He leads Renault's Fernando Alonso 7-6 on race wins in a knife-edge championship with both drivers level on points.

He won in China after Alonso, who had led to the first pitstop, struggled with tyre problems on a drying track after a wet start.

The German scythed past the Spaniard's teammate Giancarlo Fisichella, fresh out of a pitstop on cold tyres, with two wheels on the grass to take the lead.

Schumacher has won and lost championships that have gone down to the wire before now and Brawn said the most successful driver in Formula One history appeared to be taking everything in his stride.

"For me, he's very focused and very calm and that's a good sign," the Briton said. "I don't see him being irrational and I don't see any signs of stress.

"I can only judge Michael's condition (rather than Alonso's) and he's very focused, very positive and very calm.

"So I think he's going to do a superb job, and it'll be down to circumstance - the tyres, reliability and things like that," Brawn added.

Ferrari have won six of the last seven races while Alonso's last victory was in Canada in June. The Spaniard has retired twice in the last four races, in Hungary due to a mechanical failure and in Italy with a blown engine.

"Any mistake at this stage is going to be very expensive," warned Brawn. "But we are pleased with the car's performance, pleased with the team's performance.

"We said (before China) that it was a three-race championship. Well, it's a two-race championship now. So neither team can afford to make an error, it could be very costly. It's getting tight now."