Motorsport: Don't give up, winning rival tells Schumacher

SUZUKA - Renault has urged Ferrari's Michael Schumacher to keep up the Formula One title fight, even if the odds are stacked against him.

"Of course it's difficult for him, but I hope he doesn't give up," said Pat Symonds, Renault's master strategist who guided Schumacher to his first two titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995.

"I see us as statistical favourites but this has been a hell of a season, everything is so close. I feel good about our prospects but I want Michael fighting us."

Schumacher's hopes of a record eighth title were left in tatters at Suzuka after an engine failure, his first in six years during a race, robbed him of what had looked like a certain win at one of his favourite tracks.

Renault's Fernando Alonso won to go 10 points clear in the title race.

With only the Brazilian Grand Prix remaining, Schumacher has one last roll of the dice in his final race before retirement.

If Schumacher were to triumph in Brazil on October 22 and Alonso fail to score a point, the 37-year-old German would be champion.

Symonds said that remained entirely possible, as Alonso had an engine failure in Monza last month and Schumacher roared to victory.

In China, Alonso led from pole position before tyre problems after his first pitstop slowed his pace and allowed his rival to overtake and win. In Japan, fortune turned the Spaniard's way again.

"We've had two races straight after each other where no one predicted the result," said Symonds.

"It [Sunday's win] was a big relief, but I'm not going to say I was happy. I'll never be happy to win a race like that."

Schumacher said on Sunday he did not think he had any hope of winning the title, and would concentrate on the constructors' battle. Symonds does not believe him.

"I've been in the business long enough to know that you keep fighting until the last round," he said.

"You've got to be strong in this business. And Michael is strong. If he made that comment that the championship's all over, I suspect he'll reflect overnight and he'll be back fighting in Brazil.

"It's his last race, if nothing else, and even if Fernando is sitting on his tail, he'll want to win that race so much."

Renault is now nine points clear of Ferrari in the constructors' standings, and will be favourites to retain that crown as well.

But Symonds refused to take anything for granted.

"Let's think about the last two races, China and Japan, very unexpected results with things turning around a lot from Saturday to Sunday," he said.

"So we must not be complacent. I'm very pleased to be in this position and I'm much happier than if we were on our back foot trying to fight. But it's far from over. It's going to be a great race in Brazil."

- REUTERS