Suzuka and Michael Schumacher stirs stunning memories from the past.

From winning for the last time with Benetton in 1995, to securing his first drivers’ title for Ferrari in 2000, and clinching the close-run 2003 championship, the track has held mostly positive memories for the most decorated man in F1 history.

However, his last race there ended early with an engine failure and the year before he was stunningly overtaken by Fernando Alonso around the outside at 130R – a moment that led to calls questioning Schumacher’s fearlessness with Alonso commenting “at times like that I always remember Michael has kids”.

And, of course, it will be that version of Schumacher that turns up this weekend for Mercedes GP. He could use the excuse last time out of not having experience of the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore, but not at Suzuka.

It is the track where the great drivers show their worth. And if anyone in a Silver Arrows car is going to receive plaudits this weekend, it will be Nico Rosberg once more.

Mercedes received good news this week when Renault confirmed they were scrapping any more updates for this season to concentrate on the next campaign. It will ensure Mercedes keep hold of fourth-place in the constructors’ championship, and Rosberg shouldn’t slip any lower than 7^th in the drivers’ standings.

Rosberg’s best finish around Suzuka was 5^th, which he achieved last year. Once again, him finishing that high this time around relies more on how the five championship contenders and Felipe Massa fare.

Should they all finish unobstructed, Rosberg will be bringing home the car in 7^th. Should Ferrari deem it appropriate for Massa to ‘accidently’ collide with Mark Webber or Lewis Hamilton makes it three crashes in a row, then he can finish higher.

He won’t be getting involved in the title scrap by taking points off any of the drivers on pure race pace alone, though.

Schumacher would dearly love to finish in the points. Getting lapped and finishing behind Jamie Alguersuari is not the kind of performance Schumacher will want associated with himself at Suzuka. He needs to finish in the points this weekend.

This track is one that should bring out the best in him. If he fails here, maybe he should reconsider his decision to race again next year.

Other cars around him have stopped their upgrades, too. The Mercedes car is good enough to finish in the points. He now has to deliver.

We know Rosberg will.

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