MAY 25, 2016

Schumacher gets award for life's work

Michael Schumacher will be honoured at an award ceremony this week, the German newspaper Bild reports.

Michael Schumacher will be honoured at an award ceremony this week, the German newspaper Bild reports.

The report said the inaugural 'Nurburgring Award' trophy will go to the great German on Friday after he won at the fabled circuit a record five times.

As he is still recovering from his 2013 skiing fall, the award will be collected by the 48-year-old former Ferrari and Mercedes driver's manager, Sabine Kehm.

"Nobody deserves this award more than Michael," former Mercedes motor sport director Norbert Haug said.

"This award for his life's work will give him a lot of strength on his road to recovery," he added.

Not only that, Sebastian Vettel will star in a celebrity football game in Schumacher's honour in the days before the German grand prix in Hockenheim in July.

Kehm said: "For many years, Michael was the initiator and unifying figure in such benefit football games.

"We are happy that together with (German basketball player) Dirk (Nowitzki), we can offer a real highlight for the fans, because we want to thank them for their support," she added.

Finally, former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo sounds hopeful about Schumacher's recovery, with the British newspaper Daily Express saying the record winner of 91 grands prix is "reacting".

"I'm very pleased to know that he is reacting," said the Italian, without elaborating.

"I'm sure that thanks to his determination, which will be crucial, he will come out from this very, very difficult situation."

(GMM)