Grapevine: Ralf's Chihuahua Feared Dognapped

The German had no worries about returning to Formula One on Friday for the first time since his big accident in Indianapolis two weeks ago but he was concerned about the fate of his disappeared dog.

Ralf, younger brother of Ferrari World Champion Michael Schumacher, explained that the dog, Scoopy, had disappeared while he and his family were on vacation near St Tropez before the French Grand Prix.

"It was stolen, I didn't lose it. Basically I went out and usually it runs around me always and all of a sudden it was gone," he said.

"It seems to be frequent that they basically nick dogs and try to sell them back but we haven't heard from anybody yet," added the German, who celebrated his 30th birthday at Magny-Cours on Thursday.

"Sometimes they do that. It's just the best guess we have at the moment...it's a lovely dog, let's hope we get it back."

German reporters said Ralf brought the dog, then a puppy, home from Barcelona for his son David after a test there four months ago.