Schumacher fastest - in earthquake

"One retirement for me and one victory for Mika, and everything is turned around again," acknowledged Schumacher. "So we must not believe we have done it already. I enjoy racing at Suzuka. The circuit has a good flow to it, and the ultra-fast 130R corner is up with La Source and Blanchimont at Spa for excitement.

"We have to attack before we can sit back and relax. I want to win on Sunday. Only with first place can we be sure of the title. I am in Suzuka to try and tie up the title before the final race.''

Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone would no doubt faint at such sentiments, since a redundant last race is bad for television ratings and hence bad for sponsors, who pay the sport's wages. But, at least for his part, Hakkinen has been making the sort of appropriately positive noises to set Ecclestone aglow. Indeed, the Finn's manager, Keke Rosberg, who himself won the title in 1982, is not even bothering to go to Suzuka because he intends to be celebrating in Sepang in two weeks.

"I have come here prepared and thinking about these two races,'' said Hakkinen. "I know that what happened in the last race, when I had to retire, could happen to Michael. So I am very optimistic.''

But surely not as bizarrely optimistic as McLaren's managing director Martin Whitmarsh, who has a fairly extraordinary take on events.

"Mika believes he is going to win the championship and I genuinely think Michael is going to have to stop him,'' claimed Whitmarsh. "Mika was going to get the job done at Indy, and I believe he will do it in Japan instead.

"He is fresher and stronger than ever. His focus is incredible. It is going to be the toughest fight Michael has had since 1998 when Mika won.''

Each driver has won twice on Suzuka's unique figure-of-eight circuit, although Hakkinen triumphed in the last two jousts whereas the German has not tasted victory there since 1997.

On paper the circuit's long straights and fast corners favour the McLarens, but the Schumacher factor counts for so much that Ladbrokes rank him at 11-10 to Hakkinen's 6-4 for the race. The weather may prove a key factor - drenching rain is not uncommon at Suzuka.

Nor should the influence of the two drivers riding shotgun to the contenders, Coulthard and Barrichello, be forgotten, although Ferrari are doing their best to sound deeply shocked by the very idea of any dark goings-on. "The team-mates have to play fair,'' announced Ferrari boss Jean Todt primly, quite as if he meant it.

Among the surviving members of the exclusive club which Schumacher or Hakkinen will join, most hope Ferrari can land their first title since South African Jody Scheckter in 1979.

"I hope they win - it's their turn," said Jack Brabham. "It would be good for the sport. Schumacher is by far the best driver. Hakkinen has the best engine. If they switched cars there would not be any race."

Jackie Stewart said: "Schumacher is still the best driver in the world. Look at his fitness, commitment and focus. But there are still those occasional days when his head jumps out of gear. For myself, the first and the third titles were the best. When the third one came I thought there would be great big bolts of thunder and lightning to greet my achievement, but there weren't. That is the trouble with motor racing. It's at times like that you realise you can be a very small goldfish in a very big bowl."

Not a factor this time, one feels. If Schumacher wins on Sunday, there is every chance he will hear the Italian celebrations from the other side of the world.