Oxford-based driver Fernando Alonso is anticipating a battle royal with Michael Schumacher over the final two races of the season as they go head-to-head for the world title.

The duo are tied on 116 points, but Schumacher's win from Alonso in China on Sunday nudged the Ferrari driver into top spot on number of race wins.

Reigning champion Alonso, who has seen his lead in the Enstone-based Renault whittled away, said: "This is a fantastic fight for the championship. I'm really confident and believe we can do it.

"We have the quickest car and two more good chances to win."

Schumacher commented: "It's quite a miracle that we are here. It's going to be an interesting couple of weeks."

The German's victory in China put him into the lead for the first time this season with just two races left, in Japan and Brazil.

And the German, chasing an eighth world drivers' crown in his final season before retirement, believes the title race will not be decided until the chequered flag falls at Interlagos.

"Now we go to the last two races and we believe we will have to wait until the last one for a decision to be reached," he said.

But Renault also took positives from the China race - chief among them that they were out and out quicker than Ferrari for the first time since Canada.

They lost the race in Shanghai because of crucial errors by the team in the pits.

But the race ended with another moment heavy with symbolism.

Alonso dropped his bottle of champagne over the podium balcony to the Renault team below but - in another error by his team - it slipped out of a mechanic's grasp and smashed into pieces.

However, Renault chief Flavio Briatore remains bullish about his team's chances of defending their titles in both the drivers' championship and constructors', where they hold a one-point lead over Ferrari.

"We are all very sorry for Fernando," said Briatore. "He was simply fantastic and dominated in the wet and dry. There is nothing more frustrating than to see a win slip through your fingers.

"Looking further ahead, though, we had the quickest car and both championships are equal. We know we have the team and the performance to win."