Seven-time world champion congratulated his Ferrari replacement Kimi Raikkonen after the Finn clinched the drivers’ title for the first time in Brazil.

The German legend retired from Formula 1 following last year’s Interlagos race after he narrowly failed to land an eighth drivers’ crown.

A year on, he was delighted to see his former Finnish rival pull off one of the most unlikely title comebacks in history and earn his place alongside him in the Ferrari hall of fame.

"What an incredible finale, what a thrilling finish!“ Schumacher said in a statement on his website.

"I was so, so happy to see Kimi and Felipe [Massa] leading the way across the finish line.

"I mean I've always believed that you should never, ever give up and you should always keep fighting even when there's only a slightest chance, but that it would turn out to be true was something almost no one dared to believe.

"Congratulations to Kimi and all our guys - that was a super performance, and from Felipe too."

Schumacher attended a few races earlier in the season in his loosely-described new role as the team's 'super assistant', but watched the title decider from his home in Switzerland.

He admitted that seeing the team’s post-race celebrations made him reget he wasn't in Brazil himself – but he says he will congratualte them on their double title success in person soon.

"In retrospect, the only unfortunate part is that I wasn't there myself,“ he said.

"I would loved to have celebrated with them all.

"But we'll make up for that as soon as possible, and I'm really looking forward to that."