Alonso, the reigning champion, wants to keep the crown.
Heading into their final duel, Alonso has 126 points and Schumacher 116. To become champion for the eighth time, Schumacher must win in Brazil while Alonso finishes ninth or lower and out of the points.
In the Constructors Championship, Renault leads with 195 points while Ferrari has 186.
Schumacher strategy is simple – win.
“It will be a full-out attack drive,” he said. “We are looking for a double victory (a one/two finish), nothing else. That is still our only chance in the fight for the championship, and the only thing in our control. Everything else is no longer in our hands.”
Is Schumacher feeling any special emotions as this will be his last Grand Prix as a driver?
“At the moment, I am not thinking so much about it,” he said. “Occasionally it comes up, and you feel a bit strange about it. But in general, I am pretty relaxed.”
While he has the edge in the points battle, Alonso is taking nothing for granted.
“I don’t think it is over at all,” he said. “Until the final lap, when you know you are champion, anything can still happen, and we are taking nothing for granted.
“So we know that there is still a job to do, and we are focused on it. I think our aim has to be to do a normal weekend, to get the maximum from the car without any big risks, and to finish the job. If we have our usual performance, fighting at the front, then we will achieve our targets.”
While Alonso and Schumacher square off for the top honors, their respective teammates, Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa, will fight for third place in the final standings. Massa has 70 points and Fisichella 69.
Bring it on