Grapevine: More News from the Paddock - Australian GP

Busy Schu

World Champion Michael Schumacher was made to work hard after a relaxing off season as he prepared for the Australian Grand Prix with a bit of high-speed action on a smaller scale. Well known as a keen fan of karting, Schumacher took to the wheel of one of the mini machines to make seven-year-old Lachlan Riley's dream come true. Schuamcher shot into the Shell building in downtown Melbourne with Riley, who is battling Duchenne muscular dystrophy, strapped in a second seat behind him after the young boy was granted his wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "He's ecstatic," said Riley's mother, Donna. "But I don't think it's going to really hit him until he sees Michael out on the track."

Easy Rider

Michael Schumacher took to two wheels in Victoria's Dandenong Ranges as part of his pre-Australian Grand Prix preparations. The six-time World Formula One Champion joined his five-time world 500cc motorcycling champion friend Mick Doohan for a day on the mountain roads - but in keeping with his relaxed pre-race build-up, he chose a laid back Harley Davidson V-Rod as his two-wheeled transport. Schumacher was also joined by Australian 500cc racer Darryl Beattie and his manager Willi Weber for the outing and after the trip Doohan had some words of warning for any of Schumacher's rivals.

"When I was competing, it was a new challenge to win a World Championship again, even if you have won others in the past," said Doohan. "It is a challenge to see if you can still do it. (Michael) is the same every weekend, he puts in 100 percent every session, regardless of whether he is testing or at a Grand Prix itself and that is his big strength. I think the key with his past championships has been his consistency. Knowing that he is not going to give up, must be a fairly daunting thing."

Girls, girls, girls...

The Formula One paddock throbbed with anticipation at Albert Park before the engines let out the first roar of the season - as heartbeats rose for the Fosters national grid girl finals. Taking place in the centre of cultural Melbourne, the contest saw six winning beauties from each of Australia's states and one from New Zealand compete to be a grid girl for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July. Victoria's representative, 22-year-old Kate Neilson, a former finalist on the television show 'Search For A Supermodel' said: "I love the glitz of the competition and it's a lot of fun." Grinning Kristy Flynn-Konen, two years older from New South Wales, was hoping she could take the spoils in a bid to eventually win a role in television. "It's just such an amazing experience," she said. Other contenders were part-time model Jessica Plush, 20, from South Australia, Tasmanian model Holli Reeves, 23, Dane Ann Lodberg, 21, from Queensland, and West Australian Susan McGinn, 19.

Time to Party On

Tag-Heuer may have called time on their official timekeeper deal with the FIA this year but it didn't stop them throwing one of the season's first parties in Melbourne's famous Fed square. 'Ice man' Kimi Raikkonen arrived at the upmarket do, at the Zargatt, in a silver 1956 gullwing Mercedes. But his ride did not go according to the owner's plan. Raikkonen couldn't help but put down a bit of rubber on the way to the event - and his performance displeased the classic machine's owner, car buff and pharmacist Patrick Devine, as he sat in the passenger seat. Once that party was over, those who could handle it moved on to the Foster's Rev-Up party in the Botanical Gardens to party on into the small hours.

Big Day Out

Australian Mark Webber put a smile on the face of countrymen Gerard Morford-Waite, from Tasmania, Peter Murphy, from New South Wales, and Simone Hughes, from Melbourne, when he picked them out as winners of the inaugural Grand Prix Drivers' Association competition. In a bid to rid the sport of its 'them and us' attitude, Webber and his fellow GPDA members are giving people the chance to come and meet them in a special pit walkabout. Webber picked the names - each of which had bought a Webber badge in aid of Brainwave Australia to enter - from a full race helmet of entries and the winners will get to bring a guest to the race and enjoy a money-can't-buy tour of the paddock, where they will get photos with Michael Schumacher, Webber, David Coulthard and Jarno Trulli.