Michael Schumacher, the winner of seven Formula One world championships, has arrived in Shanghai to participate in the China Grand Prix, local media reported.
On a private jet from Italy, he arrived in the city at 2pm and went to St. Regis Shanghai, said Liu Jianyou, a spokesman for the Grand Prix.
Including the Shanghai leg, this F1 season has three Grand Prix's to go.
Schumacher's schedule in the city is still unknown, according to Yu Zhifei, the general manager of the prix. "I don't even have time to pick him up at the airport, I'm just that busy," he told the local media before Schumacher's arrival.
According to a Ferrari spokesman, Schumacher will attend five press conferences over the next few days.
Schumacher said he is looking forward to the last races of his career and felt no pressure. He also said that he thought about his retirement for a long time.
Though he didn't perform very well in Shanghai in the past two years, Schumacher seems full of confidence, according to the newspaper.
Schumacher said his F1 Ferrari's have no problems, as his former teammate Barrichello once won the championship in the city. "I need two more points here," he added.
Though the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile cancelled Shanghai's proposal to host a ceremony for his retirement, enthusiastic fans and spectators will still have chance to cheer their hero when a float carries him and the other racers in front of the grandstands.
We may play "We are the champions" during the parade, Liu Jianyou said.
(Shanghai Daily September 27, 2006)