Alonso title in sight as luckless Schu admits defeat

MICHAEL Schumacher conceded that his bid for an unprecedented eighth Formula One drivers’ world title was over after defending champion, Spaniard Fernando Alonso, profited from his blown engine to triumph in yesterday’s Japanese Grand Prix.

The German said he and his Ferrari team would now concentrate on securing the constructors’ championship in the final race of the season, in Brazil, after their first engine failure for six years wrecked his hopes of victory. Their last came at the French Grand Prix in 2000.

“It is lost,” said retirement-bound Schumacher, 37. “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.”