Grapevine: More News from the Paddock - German GP

Figo No Go

World Champion Michael Schumacher appeared aggrieved when he admitted Portuguese football superstar Luis Figo had stood him up in the build-up to the traditional Formula One football match that took place before this weekend's German Grand Prix. Figo had agreed to attend the event, in Heidelberg on Wednesday, as payback to Schumacher, who took time out to join the Real Madrid player for his charity match earlier in the year. But European Cup finalist Figo failed to turn up and Schumacher grumbled: "I went to his game and he committed himself to ours." Not that the match needed Figo to add the goal-den touch - it finished 6-6 with Schumacher on the scoresheet as usual.

No Dope

Schumacher is suffering from flu this weekend and has been under the weather for around a week - because he cannot use any medication to shake it off. The sport's governing body, the FIA, insists on strict doping controls for drivers and any mistaken choice of medicine could tip Schumacher over the line and see him disqualified from the race. His fitness guru, Balbir Singh, is reported to have solved the problem, however, by creating a Vitamin C-enriched drink for him to quaff.

Got Your Number

Jordan's Bahrain messages continued here in Germany this weekend with a campaign for the charity 46664. The famous number was the prison tag held by future South African president Nelson Mandela during his 18-years in prison on Robben Island, in Cape Town harbour. Mandela gave the number to rock star Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics to initiate a series of music recordings and concerts with the aim of fundraising the fight of AIDS and team boss Eddie Jordan, a keen music fan himself, was more than happy for the number to be displayed in big black figures on the engine cover of their car.

Religious Attack

Rumours rapidly spread around the pit lane on Friday that Michael Schumacher had been threatened by a religious group before a practice session at Hockenheim. The story suggested the members of the group had cleverly obtained passes to enter through the hallowed paddock gates and had then walked up to the Ferrari driver as he prepared for one of the sessions, demanding that he join their sect and claiming he was just the man they wanted as a figurehead.. They were then said to have threatened to 'kill him' if he did not come on side -- but the story was rapidly shot down as overblown paddock gossip by the world champion. "The guy just wanted to pray with me," said Schumacher. "I did not feel threatened and I did not feel bothered at all."