In their capacity as special ambassadors to San Marino, Michael Schumacher and Jean Todt yesterday visited the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

They were met by Professor Howard Eigen, director of the Pneumology and Intensive Care department and the two Ambassadors went to the infant oncology department, where they chatted with the children there as patients and handed over a model of the Ferrari F2002.

After the visit, Professor Eigen said: 'We are really grateful to Jean Todt and Michael Schumacher. The children and their families and also all of us, have really appreciated their generosity and the feeling of warmth which it generated. The smiles on the faces of our little patients is its most eloquent proof.'

For Schumacher, this was his first public engagement since his investiture as an ambassador to the Republic back on 1st September.

The Riley Hospital for Children of Indianapolis has a research centre linked to the university health system and is one of the most advanced facilities in the United States for paediatric intensive care and looks after over two hundred thousand patients per year.