Schumacher expects Vettel to fight for title

HAMBURG - Michael Schumacher expects fellow-German Sebastian Vettel to give it all he has in the final two season races as he can steal the Formula One world title.

“He (Vettel) still has the chance to win the title. This alone is already a big success. I am sure he will make everything possible to show a good performance in the next two races,” the record world champion Schumacher, now a Ferrari advisor, said on his website Monday.

“Mathematically everything is still possible, and I will keep my fingers crossed for him.”

Briton Jenson Button leads the championship with 85 points heading into the final races in Brazil Sunday and Abu Dhabi on Nov 1.

Brawn GP teammate Rubens Barrichello has 71 and Red Bull’s Vettel 69 after winning in Japan on October 4. A victory is worth 10 points.

Vettel, who has been compared with the seven-time champion Schumacher over the past week, hopes for a miracle in the final races.

Two years ago, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen reversed a 17-point deficit on Lewis Hamilton of McLaren-Mercedes in the final two races to steal the title, and this season proves to be as dramatic.

“This F1 season turned out to be extremely attractive again, and as probably all motorsport fans I am looking forward to seeing what will be happening in the last two races.

“It is not over until it is over; you have to fight until the end. At Ferrari, we live that experience very successfully since many years, and I am convinced it will be like this again this time. Sebastian as well will probably share this view,” he said.

Schumacher also said he hopes that Ferrari can retain third place in the constructors championship which Brawn has all but wrapped up ahead of Red Bull.