Schumacher won't blame crew for woe http://msn.foxsports.com/motor/story/6042938 Michael Schumacher is refusing to blame his team after mechanical trouble at the Japanese Grand Prix robbed him of world title glory. Smoke poured out of the back of Schumacher's Ferrari after the German made his second pit stop, prompting him to pull out and hand the race win to world-title rival Fernando Alonso. Alonso's victory means the Spaniard needs only to collect a point in the final race of the season in Brazil in two weeks' time but, rather than criticise his team, Schumacher was quick to praise his mechanics and pit crew. "I'm really very happy with everything that they have done all the time, but you know racing is like this," said the 37-year-old, who will retire at the end of the season. "We are winning together and we are losing together and today we were just trying to do everything. We were in the lead and we lost an engine. But this is Formula One. "I think we can be very proud with what we have achieved this season with all the work we have been doing." With a gap of 10 points between Schumacher and Alonso, the veteran has conceded his chances of going into retirement as world champion have all but disappeared, even though they remain mathematically possible. "The drivers' championship is over because I don't want to go to Brazil hoping someone else retires, that's not the way I want to win a championship," he said. "We all know Fernando only needs one point and we all know what a good driver he is, so that should be no problem for him. "I don't think it's a nice thing to hope for a retirement. We are going to Brazil now and we will give all we can, but more towards the constructors' championship and then we will see what comes out of this." That sense of disappointment permeated the Ferrari team as they focus now on overturning Renault's nine-point advantage in the competition between manufacturers. "We are disappointed, very disappointed," said technical director Ross Brawn. "It was a very hard race, but Michael was controlling the situation until his engine problem, from which there was no escape. "It's true that our chances of final victory are very slim but there is still one race to go and we will do our utmost to end this year in the very best way possible." Team principal Jean Todt congratulated Renault on their victory and stressed Ferrari would continue to push in Brazil. "There is one race to go which will carry a special symbolism as it will be Michael's last one," he said. "As we have done for years now, we will put all our heart and soul into getting the best possible result.
