Schumi gets honorary citizenship

Maranello, Italy:

Michael Schumacher has been granted honorary citizenship in Ferrari's hometown. The seven-time Formula One champion spent the last 11 years racing for Ferrari before retiring in October at the end of this season. Maranello Mayor Lucia Bursi presented Schumacher with the keys to the city inside the Enzo Ferrari auditorium, as Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo looked on. Schumacher offered his thanks in Italian, a language he rarely speaks in public. "I'm very honored," he said. "Thank you to everyone that made this possible." The mayor of Kerpen - Schumacher's hometown in Germany - said in October that the city will not bestow any honors on the driver because of his lack of "social commitment" to the town. Schumacher now lives in Switzerland. (AP)