Michael Schumacher yesterday said that, if presented with the opportunity, he may hand victory in Sunday's season-ending Malaysian Grand Prix to team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

The German admitted that he owed a debt of honour to the Brazilian who helped him win the Canadian Grand Prix in June, points that proved crucial in the German's ultimately successfully quest for Ferrari's first world drivers' championship in 21 years.

With Schumacher leading in Montreal, but struggling to maintain pace, second-placed Barrichello selflessly complied with team orders not to attack his team-mate and also held off the challenge of Giancarlo Fisichella and Mika Hakkinen. At the time, Schumacher said he wouldn't forget the sacrifice and yesterday he said Sunday may be the time to settle the debt.

"I guess that Rubens would rather be in front of me and win by himself," said Schumacher. "That's his intention, but I remember Canada and I remember well what I said there, so we'll see what happens."

Schumacher goes into this last race of the season aiming to tie up the final loose end of a historic season by sealing the constructors' title for Ferrari. The Italian team currently lead McLaren by 13 points and only require one of their drivers to finish fourth to put the race beyond McLaren, even if Ron Dennis' team scores a one-two on Sunday.

"Our intention is clear this weekend," he said. "McLaren know it and we know it. It's out of their hands to be honest. The outcome is completely in our hands."

He added that the Japanese Grand Prix also ranked as one the best and most difficult races of his career. "The level we both achieved in Suzuka was amazing. It was an outstanding race . If you look at every lap, which I did after the race when I had time to analyse it, it was just incredible."

The enjoyment of the moment was marred slightly however by comments from Italian politicians castigating Schumacher for his conducting of the Italian national anthem from the podium. Yesterday, Schumacher insisted he had not mocked the anthem and would continue to celebrate in such style.

"A couple of times in the past there have been people who have criticised me and I have stopped. But then the mechanics aren't happy and they complain, asking me why I don't do it anymore.

"And to be honest, I think I'd rather please my mechanics then anyone else who criticises me. But whoever thinks that I'm not respecting the Italian anthem is completely wrong. I fully respect it."

Mika Hakkinen, meanwhile, has denied reports that he would have retired from Formula One if he had won a third title in a row. "I definitely have the motivation to continue in the future," he said.

"Even if I had won I would have had that motivation. It still hasn't gone away."