Single Point
Alonso needs just one point to secure the title, even if Schumacher wins, in Sunday's season-ender at Interlagos. He then leaves Renault for McLaren, former champions who have not won all season.
Schumacher did something similar at the end of 1995, leaving Benetton at the age of 26 and after two titles in a row to join Ferrari, then a slumbering giant that had won only two races in five seasons.
Since then, the German has won 72 times for Ferrari, clinching an unprecedented five titles in a row from 2000 to 2004 to stand as the only seven-times champion. If he wins on Sunday, it will be the 92nd of his career.
Alonso cannot hope for such dominance, particularly at a team that believes firmly in giving both of its drivers equal opportunities and at a time when rule stability promises closer competition than ever next year.
But he will be left as Formula One's only active champion, as well as the man who dethroned Schumacher in 2005 to become the youngest ever title winner. His confidence and maturity have grown noticeably since he last raced in Brazil.
"I know how to do it and I know how I enjoyed last year winning and how to repeat and how to defend number one on my car," he said.
"The experience you have in one important year, like you have with your first championship, this you never forget and you use in the rest of your career."
