Schumi honoured at FIA Awards gala

Michael Schumacher was presented with a special FIA Gold Medal at the governing body's Awards Ceremony in Monaco last night for his contribution to motor racing.

The seven-times world champion was clearly delighted at being handed the honour by FIA president Max Mosley and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone at the very end of the evening in the Salle des Etoiles at the Monaco Sporting Club.

"I have received a huge amount of joy and pleasure from motor sport," said Schumacher. "To all of you and all of the people everywhere I really want to express my thanks. I have had such a love for this sport.

"It doesn't need motivation. You do it as good as you can and luckily I have a lot of great people around me who have allowed me to achieve what we have achieved together."

Mosley added: "It's a career that has never been equalled in the past and probably never will be in the future. In addition to his extraordinary achievements on the track I have to say Michael has helped us enormously with all sorts of work on road safety all over the world."

Bernie Ecclestone paid tribute to Schumacher's character off track, as well as his achievements on it. "All sports need a superstar and Michael is a superstar," he said.

"Michael's achievements speak for themselves so I don't really need to say anything more about them. But what they don't say is what a lovely guy Michael is and he is supported by a really lovely family. He's a lucky guy and I wish him all the best in the future."

Schumi gets his biggest trophy

Michael Schumacher may have collected hundreds of trophies from his long and successful Formula One career, but now he has one that's actually bigger than Jean Todt.

Ferrari gave the seven times world champion a unique Christmas present last week, when Schumacher was presented a 1.60-metres tall steel cup, in recognition of all his achievements for the Italian outfit.

In the company of 1,000 employees - including departing technical director Ross Brawn and engine guru Paolo Martinelli, chief executive Jean Todt and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo - Schumacher received the 200-kilo monster, which has the dates of all his 72 GP wins with the scuderia inscribed on it.

"I'm touched and honoured," Schumacher told the crowd. "These eleven years [with Ferrari] have been really special, and it's thanks to you that I won all that's written on this cup."

His teammate in 2006 Felipe Massa was not left empty-handed, although his Christmas gift was significantly smaller.

The Brazilian was given a small sculpture to commemorate his two Grand Prix wins this season, displaying the number 1 twice - one in Turkish colours and the other in Brazilian colours.

And to sum up the event, president di Montezemolo had one message for the cheering crowd: "A golden era ends, now a new one starts. The objectives are clear."

Schumi awarded citizenship of Maranello

Since this evening, Maranello has a seven times Formula 1 champion amongst its citizens: Michael Schumacher has been awarded the honorary citizenship of the commune of Emilia-Romagna. The reason given was that with his extraordinary history at Ferrari, he was an accompaniment to one of the most important parts in the history of the commune of Maranello. The auditorium "Enzo Ferrari" was not big enough to hold all of the people who wanted to be close to Michael. In front of the theatre there was a video wall where people outside could follow the ceremony. Under the presence of President Luca di Montezemolo, Vice-President Piero Ferrari, CEO Jean Todt and General-Director Amedeo Felisa, an obviously moved Michael Schumacher said that he was touched by receiving the honorary citizenship of Maranello. Which five years ago had been awarded to the President. The official ceremony ended with the giving of the keys to the city by mayor Lucia Bursi and a miniature bell tower engraved with the most important dates of Schumacher's "red" career. As a nod to the tradition started by Maranello's priest Don Elio Belloi and continued by his successor Don Alberto Bernardoni, the bells of the tower rang, as they do after victories of the single-seaters from Maranello. Over the last 11 years the bells rang 72 times for Michael. Giancarlo Bertacchini, Scuderia Ferrari Club President of Maranello, handed over to Michael a small barrel of Aceto Balsamico, which signifies deep friendship in Emilia, while Giulio Corsari, President of the association of former F1 mechanics gave a leather-bound plaque with the engraving "Grazie Michael", as a perfect ending to the evening.