Schumacher looking to move ahead of Alonso in Shanghai

By Jens Marx Sep 28, 2006, 15:13 GMT

Shanghai - Michael Schumacher may have announced his intention to retire from Formula One at the end of the season but remains firmly focused on overtake Renault's Fernando Alonso in this year's drivers' championship.

Against all the odds, the seven-time world champion can achieve this at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

The Ferrari driver is just two points behind Alonso with three races remaining and also appears to be in the stronger car, as evidenced by his confident victory at the Italian GP at Imola on September 10.

'I want to remain fully concentrated on the drivers' championship,' said Schumacher on Thursday.

However, the 37-year-old German acknowledged that because of his retirement announcement 18 days ago, Sunday's race wouldn't be 'business as usual.'

'But I'm especially looking forward to that,' he said with a smile on his face.

'I think we can win the title again but in my eyes I think it will be tight,' said Schumacher. 'You should not underestimate Renault and we will certainly not make that mistake.'

Defending champion Alonso may be leaving for McLaren-Mercedes at the end of the season but the Spaniard remains confident that he can halt Schumacher's now seemingly relentless charge to an eighth title in Shanghai, Sao Paulo and Suzuka.

'These are the last three races for me with this fantastic Renault team so our motivation to win is enormous, and I think we can do it,' he said.

'It's very simple. Whoever wins more of the three remaining races, will also win the championship,' Alonso added.

Three months ago, Alonso held a 25-point lead over Schumacher after taking victory at the Canadian GP in Montreal. Now it's down to just two but Alonso says he is still as hungry as ever for victory.

'When it was 25 points, I wanted to enjoy a victory in my next race. I feel exactly the same way now,' he said. 'The important thing in the next races is to give the maximum to the team.'

Both drivers have won six times this season but Ferrari are three points clear of Renault in the constructors' championship.