Grapevine: News from the Paddock - Australian GP

Schuey Footy

World Champion Michael Schumacher can never resist a football match, so it was no surprise he donned his baggy shorts, high socks and boots to take part in a friendly match. Unlike the usual events he is involved in, however, this was a 'jumpers for goalposts' knockabout with a few pals at Fawkner Park, south of the Yarra River. "This is how we like to relax before races. I enjoy soccer, this is relaxing. We just plan to relax for the rest of the day now," Schumacher told local paper the Herald Sun before heading off for a walk in the park. His rivals are hoping he will not be repeating his afternoon amble on Sunday.

Popular Dining

The beach resort of St Kilda is an obvious place to pick as a favourite spot to relax in the Melbourne area - so it is no wonder that drivers from all three of Formula One top teams have already dined at its popular Stokehouse restaurant this weekend. It seems the name Schumacher is almost always top of the list when it comes to racing - and yet again that was the case in the race for a table at the Aussie eatery when Ferrari's Michael and Williams' Ralf joined each other for a slap up meal.

Not to be outdone, McLaren made sure their drivers were in on the act in the hostelry when they held their now annual Grand Prix quiz. But if that excitement was not enough for the staff they were treated with something altogether more arousing when BAR sponsor Brunotti staged a fashion shoot and beach party BBQ there, complete with Brunotti models in the latest BAR bikinis...and the new BAR 005.

Swimming with the Sharks

British Formula One debutants Ralph Firman and Justin Wilson made sure they grabbed the headlines before the season-opening Grand Prix weekend by taking a dip with the sharks at the Melbourne aquarium. In many ways, although Wilson is the taller man, by being with Minardi he is the smaller fish, but he remained perfectly calm as he donned his diving gear and took on the gnashing jaws of death.

Firman was equally level-headed, and admitted: "I wasn't worried about being in the water and I'm not getting too uptight about my first race at the top level either." Perhaps then, it would have been more appropriate to have their two team bosses Paul Stoddart and Eddie Jordan in the tank. After all, they are the ones who are swimming with sharks on a day to day basis.

Cooking Up a Storm

Ferrari's designers appear to have got the ingredients just right on the F2003-GA and they are just waiting for the oven to cook them to perfection so on Thursday it was time for drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello to put their creative skills to the test. The pair were asked to cook up something special in the pre-event rounds of publicity and Vodafone came up with a unique celebrity chef challenge which saw them team up with two renowned Australian chefs in a race against clock to cook the tastiest Italian dish.

Schumacher made Linguine Aglio e Olio while Barrichello made Tortellini al Pomodoro. The end of the challenge was signalled by a chequered flag waved by Australian model Megan Gale, the face of Vodafone Omnitel, Italy. It is safe to say both should stick to racing.