'Title is lost', concedes Schumacher.

A downbeat Michael Schumacher has conceded that his title hopes are over following a surprise mechanical induced retirement from the lead in the Japanese Grand Prix, the German now needing the all but impossible scenario of a win in Brazil and a retirement for Fernando Alonso to end his career with an eighth world title.

On a weekend where both Schumacher and Ferrari have had the clear edge, the seven-time champion was leading comfortably, if not dominantly, at Suzuka when his engine cried enough, leaving him to pull off in a plume of smoke with his first failure in over five years, an moment that is likely to be the defining image of this year's championship.

It is a result that has dealt a fatal blow to Schumacher's title hopes as the climax of his glittering career nears ever closer, with a victory on his final F1 outing at Interlagos not now necessarily expected to come attached with a final world title.

Indeed, while he is not mathematically out of the title tussle, Schumacher has already admitted defeat, claiming he would not want to win the championship by virtue of Alonso having to retire in Brazil anyway.

"It is lost. I don't want to head off for a race, hoping that my rival has to retire. That is not the way in which I want to win the title."

Schumacher was in phlegmatic mood about the outcome of his race, claiming merely that engine failures are part of the sport, choosing not to place the emphasis on a traditionally bullet-proof Ferrari team, who have now suffered a second engine failure in as many races.

"We are a great team," Schumacher stated. "Our guys are the best and I have a great affection for everyone at Ferrari and am always more than satisfied in the way we work. Incidents like today's can happen and they are part of racing. You win together but you also lose together. Today we did our best, I was leading the race and then my engine broke. That's the simplest way to sum it up. That is Formula 1.

Still, Schumacher claims he still has a duty to do all he can to win the constructors' championship for Ferrari as a parting gesture and with 18 points still available in Brazil and a nine point gap to make up on Renault, he is determined to deliver at least one title to the team before his demise.

"We can be proud of what we have achieved since Canada: we were twenty five points behind and no one could have thought we would be back in the fight for the championship, but we did it. Now we are nine points behind in the Constructors' classification and we will do all we can to win this title in Brazil."