Alonso holds a 10-point lead at the top of the championship over Schumacher, who will retire after the race.

Red Bull driver Coulthard said: “In sport anything can happen, and in motorsport in particular – where it’s not just down to the individuals driving the cars – you need the engines to be reliable, the pit crews to do a successful tyre change at the pit stop.

“A lot of things can happen during that grand prix and I think it will be a very exciting end to the season.”

In previous years Schumacher has collided with Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve in championship-settling races, however the Ferrari driver cannot afford anything other than a clean drive on Sunday if he is to overcome his 25-year-old Renault rival.

“Schumacher has had a great career,” said 35-year-old Coulthard.

“There’s no question that he has re-written the history books. But he’s been a controversial champion, because not only has he been one of the best all-rounders in the sport, he’s also had some controversial championship victories.

“Going to the wire with Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill he clashed in those final races so I think that we can probably expect a little bit of fireworks this weekend in Brazil between him and Alonso – Michael needs to win the event.

“There’s a lot at stake. Michael will want to win the race whatever happens, he will want to finish his career on a high, but obviously that relies on Fernando not finishing to win the World Championship.”

With Renault on Michelin, and Ferrari on Bridgestone, Coulthard believes tyres could be a key factor in the outcome of both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa leads Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella by just one point for third place in the drivers’ championship, with Renault nine points ahead in the constructors’ standings.

“During the event it will come down to whoever has the quickest package,” said Coulthard.

“I think Massa is an able wing man for Michael, and if you look at Massa’s comparison to Schumacher versus Giancarlo’s to Alonso they’ve been in a similar position, so what really will decide the championship – apart from Renault’s reliability – is whether Bridgestone or Michelin have a better tyre in Brazil.”

Coulthard refused to accept that the sport will be worse off without 37-year-old Schumacher, saying: “The sport will lose a lot of German fans but Formula 1 survived before him and I’m sure it’ll survive after him.”