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Schumacher takes nothing for granted in challenging F1 history
Michael Schumacher on Wednesday vowed not to ease off his throttle at the season-closing Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, even though his nine-point lead has all but secured his record sixth world title.
The German Ferrari ace warned that due to strong competition even a slight mistake could cost him dearly at Suzuka, where he has taken pole position seven times and triumphed five times, including three in a row up to last year.
"This year, simply, the competition is on a much, much higher level," the 34-year-old said here ahead of the season's final round at Suzuka on Sunday. "And every little detail could determine whether you may be up front or not."
Schumacher needs just one point, or an eighth-place finish, to secure his title. His nearest rival Kimi Raikkonen, the Finnish McLaren driver, will take the title only with a first-place finish Sunday and Schumacher placing ninth or below. Schumacher, who swept 11 of 17 F1 races last season, has won just six so far this year, missing the top of the podium for five straight races from the ninth round.
"I am always ready, despite the point situation," he said. "The nine-point lead makes me a lot safer but, on the other hand, it makes me feel a bit worried because all I can do is lose."
Everybody sort of feels that the championship has been won but it is mathematically not. I'm going to be very, very careful and very focused and concentrated to do the job properly for myself and the team and for those who support me."
With a victory in Suzuka, which would be his 71st career Grand Prix, Schumacher will overtake Argentine legend Juan Manuel Fangio's record of five F1 titles won in the 1950s. Schumacher admitted his love of Suzuka, a 5.81-kilometer figure-of-eight circuit some 300 kilometers (185 miles) southwest of Tokyo.
"I've won a lot at Suzuka because the layout of the circuit is very specific and suiting me personally very much. Suzuka is the number- one circuit for me with a combination of (S-curves) that are just fantastic, he said.
The Ferrari racer also welcomed a modification to reduce speed in a tricky corner leading from the circuit's backstraight to the chicane."It might have reduced the excitement of the corner but increased the overtaking possibility in the chicane," he said, adding it would give a "better show and more fun" for drivers.
There was no hint of early retirement for Schumacher when he talked about his "love of the sport," despite his manager Willi Weber's recent comment in a magazine that the German driver could retire from F1 once his contract expires in 2006.
"There's nothing else I wish to do," he said. "And as long as I'm competitive, as long as I love to do what I'm doing, there's no need to think about stopping it."Schumacher takes nothing for granted in challenging F1 history
Michael Schumacher on Wednesday vowed not to ease off his throttle at the season-closing Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, even though his nine-point lead has all but secured his record sixth world title.
The German Ferrari ace warned that due to strong competition even a slight mistake could cost him dearly at Suzuka, where he has taken pole position seven times and triumphed five times, including three in a row up to last year.
"This year, simply, the competition is on a much, much higher level," the 34-year-old said here ahead of the season's final round at Suzuka on Sunday. "And every little detail could determine whether you may be up front or not."
Schumacher needs just one point, or an eighth-place finish, to secure his title. His nearest rival Kimi Raikkonen, the Finnish McLaren driver, will take the title only with a first-place finish Sunday and Schumacher placing ninth or below. Schumacher, who swept 11 of 17 F1 races last season, has won just six so far this year, missing the top of the podium for five straight races from the ninth round.
"I am always ready, despite the point situation," he said. "The nine-point lead makes me a lot safer but, on the other hand, it makes me feel a bit worried because all I can do is lose."
Everybody sort of feels that the championship has been won but it is mathematically not. I'm going to be very, very careful and very focused and concentrated to do the job properly for myself and the team and for those who support me."
With a victory in Suzuka, which would be his 71st career Grand Prix, Schumacher will overtake Argentine legend Juan Manuel Fangio's record of five F1 titles won in the 1950s. Schumacher admitted his love of Suzuka, a 5.81-kilometer figure-of-eight circuit some 300 kilometers (185 miles) southwest of Tokyo.
"I've won a lot at Suzuka because the layout of the circuit is very specific and suiting me personally very much. Suzuka is the number- one circuit for me with a combination of (S-curves) that are just fantastic, he said.
The Ferrari racer also welcomed a modification to reduce speed in a tricky corner leading from the circuit's backstraight to the chicane."It might have reduced the excitement of the corner but increased the overtaking possibility in the chicane," he said, adding it would give a "better show and more fun" for drivers.
There was no hint of early retirement for Schumacher when he talked about his "love of the sport," despite his manager Willi Weber's recent comment in a magazine that the German driver could retire from F1 once his contract expires in 2006.
"There's nothing else I wish to do," he said. "And as long as I'm competitive, as long as I love to do what I'm doing, there's no need to think about stopping it."Schumacher takes nothing for granted in challenging F1 history
