MAGNY-COURS (France), July 18: Michael Schumacher is on the verge of a record-tying fifth Formula One world title entering this weekend’s French Grand Prix.

However, he will be only too happy to delay the party for a week to allow him to celebrate in style in front of his own fans at the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim the following Sunday.

A victory at the French Grand Prix Sunday by Schumacher - with a little help from others - will put him level with the legendary Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio, who won the last of his five world crowns in 1957.

“We will definitely try to do it at Magny-Cours, because I would certainly like to win there,” Schumacher said.

“But that doesn’t necessarily mean I will have won the whole championship because that doesn’t just depend on me - it also depends on where my competitors finish.

“So I really wouldn’t mind if it were to happen in Hockenheim.”

If Schumacher wins the race and neither of his closest pursuers — Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello or Juan Pablo Montoya of Williams take second — the title race will be over with still six races to go.

It will be the fastest clinching of a title since Nigel Mansell did it also in the 11th race of the season in 1992.

Schumacher has a lead of 54 points over Barrichello and 53 over Montoya - if the German ace comes out of the French race with 60 points or more over the rest of the field, then he will be champion.

Schumacher has dominated this year’s championship winning seven of the 10 races with two second places and a third in the other three.

He also has won the French race five times including his first-ever Ferrari win in 1996.

About the only thing that can stop Schumacher is another 1-2 Ferrari victory with Barrichello second but that would probably only delay the inevitable by a week.

“The chances seem good, I know, but I also know that anything can still happen, so I don’t want to start speculating too much,” Schumacher said.

The Ferrari team is also close to the constructors title for the fourth straight year and another 1-2 finish would clinch the series once again.

“Probably, we have just done a better job,” Schumacher said.

“In general, our success comes from the fact we work hard and in a constructive way and this has brought its rewards.”

Schumacher appreciates the reliability of his Ferrari.

He is the only driver to have finished every race this season and the he last time he failed to finish was nearly a year ago at the German Grand Prix when he had a brake problem.

But he hasn’t had any problems this season and it is getting better.

At the Ferrari test track in Maranello, Italy, he has set a lap record and drove the equivalent of two Grand Prix without a technical problem.

All of which doesn’t bode well for his rivals.

Barrichello has a slight chance to win while Montoya has been relegated to the third spot.

Ralf Schumacher, Montoya’s Williams teammate, has won one race this year but will be eliminated from contention even if he takes second behind brother Michael on Sunday.

Likewise McLaren’s David Coulthard, who also has a victory this year. His is far behind with 26 points.—AFP