Motorsport: Pele to present Schumacher with special trophy

Michael Schumacher

SAO PAULO - Pele will present Michael Schumacher with a specially commissioned trophy after the final grand prix of the Ferrari driver's Formula One career in Brazil tomorrow.

The official Formula One website said the Brazilian World Cup great would thank the seven-times champion for his contribution to the sport.

Schumacher is chasing his 92nd victory, and a possible eighth title, at Interlagos.

The 37-year-old is 10 points behind Renault's Fernando Alonso and must win and hope the Spaniard fails to score.

Pele's last formal appearance at a Brazilian Grand Prix was in 2002, when his sense of timing temporarily deserted him.

Instead of waving the chequered flag at Schumacher as the Ferrari crossed the line, he was distracted and flourished it at the wrong car.

In 2000, Pele also presented the winners' trophy to Schumacher. The German forgot to take the silverware with him and it was found behind the podium two days later.

- REUTERS