Former champion Damon Hill has warned Renault's Fernando Alonso to watch out for Michael Schumacher, even if the German has publicly ruled out his chances of winning the F1 title.
"Michael said he's not thinking about the championship now, that's baloney. He never gives up," the Briton, champion with Williams in 1996, said.
"I would keep my armour on if I were Alonso until after the last race."
Schumacher is 10 points behind champion Alonso with one race, in Brazil next week, to come after he retired from Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix with a blown engine.
The only way the German can take a record eighth title is if he wins at Interlagos - his last race before retirement - and Spaniard Alonso fails to score.
"Don't write that guy off. It's not over until it's over," said Hill.