Will Schumacher Resort to Dirty Tactics to Win F1 Title?

There are rumors that Michael Schumacher will play dirty this Sunday at the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix.

After all, he is coming to the last and final race of his F1 career and he would definitely love going out with the F1 title in hand. However, Bernie Ecclestone thinks otherwise. He said any suggestions that Michael Schumacher and Ferrari could resort to dirty tactics to win this year's World title are untrue.

Schumacher needs the victory in Sunday's 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix and for Fernando Alonso to finish outside the points in order to claim his eighth Drivers' Championship trophy.

This has led some to suggest that Ferrari could have Fernando Alonso bumped off the track and into retirement in order to help their driver.

However, according to Ecclestone, that won't happen.

''In my opinion, Michael will drive in the most correct manner he has ever driven in Formula One,'' Ecclestone said.

''He's taken the attitude that if it's going to be, it's going to be.''

The F1 legend also expressed a desire to see Michael Schumacher remain a part of the sport. ''I'd like to see him not forget what Formula One's done for him and find a way to pay a little bit back.''

But whatever the Ferrari driver does opt to do in the future, Ecclestone is confident his name will forever remain in the record books.

''His record will not be eclipsed. Certainly with Ferrari he's the one that drives the team. I'm not sure the other drivers are strong enough, willing enough or put enough into it to do that.''

Can Michael Schumacher pull off a miracle and win the 2006 F1 championship? Here are the odds.

Fernando Alonso 1.03

Michael Schumacher 9.00

Mind Games Begin at the F1 2006 Japanese Grand Prix

Michael Schumacher claimed the psychological advantage in his World title battle with Fernando Alonso.

The German clocked a faster time than the Renault driver in the second session of free practice ahead of Sunday's 2006 Japanese Grand Prix.

However, it seems it was the day of the no.2 drivers as Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella recorded the quickest time of the afternoon with Ferrari's Felipe Massa just seventh hundredths of a second adrift.

Michael Schumacher was third and Fernando Alonso fourth.

As far as the rest of the F1 field gos, Honda test driver Anthony Davidson recorded the fifth fastest time, with BMW Sauber's Sebastien Vettel in sixth and Jenson Button seventh.

With the track drying after a wet start to the day, there was a busy end to the session as the drivers sought to run on the Suzuka circuit on grooved rather than wet-weather tires.

Davidson set the early pace in the wet again, following on from his showing in the first practice session, where the Honda driver was the quickest of the 11 drivers who took to the track.

The Briton recorded the fastest time in the opening half-hour of the second session before being surpassed by Fisichella and, as the track dried, the times came down dramatically.

Can Michael Schumacher win the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix? Here are some odds from Bodog.

Michael Schumacher 10/11

Fernando Alonso 9/5

Kimi Raikkonen 6/1

Michael Schumacher ties Alonso for Championship Points

Michael Schumacher makes things even more interesting in the F1 season as he ties Fernando Alonso for the championship lead in Shanghai.

Schumacher's win was a crushing blow to Renault, just when they thought they were going to open the gap. But their demise was all their own doing. It was a classic Schumi performance. They used to call Mike Gascoyne "The Rottweiller" for his aggressive demeanor in the Jordan team, but on this evidence it should go to Michael Schumacher.

He locked his jaws down on this race, shook it up and then wouldn't let go.

It was a classic performance in that it showed all his best qualities - perseverance, speed at the right time, the ability to adapt to changing conditions, and making the most of a little bit of luck.

All of this, aided by circumstances conspiring against Renault and an overtaking move on Giancarlo Fisichella that almost went horribly wrong.

Michael put maximum pressure on the Renault team and after Fisi's second pit-stop where he switched on to dry tires he could so easily have taken Michael out on the long apex of Turn 1 as he scrabbled back towards the dry line.

Had Fisi not run wide in Turn 1, Michael would probably have nailed him somewhere on that lap, but it was typical of Michael to go straight for it while he had the opportunity.

Though they've not always out-strategised Renault in 2006, in this race they did. However it would be nice to hear some Ferrari team radio during the race as opposed to always on the slowing down lap.

They clearly have the ability to turn their radios on, it's just that they refuse to allow fans to hear them at work

Considering Michael has raced for so many seasons it seems slightly bonkers that there's little or no coverage of mid-race conversations between himself and Ross Brawn. It has been the key driver/technical director relationship over the last 10 years and we've never heard them talking except to say: "Well done Michael, really great job" etc etc.

Can Michael Schumacher win the F1 drivers’ championship? Sports Interaction has the odds, log on and visit today.