Grapevine: News from the Paddock

Football Lesson

As if things were not tough enough for World Champion Michael Schumacher at the moment, he suffered an embarrassing moment when he was given a football lesson by Santos star Robinho. Schumacher, who prides himself on being a good footballer and who has played with some of the biggest World Cup stars, was left red-faced in a charity match on Wednesday before the Brazilian Grand Prix when he was 'nutmegged' by Robinho during the game. The German appeared mesmerised as the Brazilian star, just 19 years of age, stopped in front of him and jinked over the ball before calmly slotting it through his legs. "When I saw his eyes I knew what he was going to do," Schumacher admitted afterwards. "I tried to stop him but I couldn't."

The event, on behalf of the UNICEF child hope campaign, was still a success and Schumacher admitted he was overwhelmed by the turnout. "I am happy that as many people have come to witness this party. I never played for as many people. I am accustomed to participate of events as this, but always for a public of 100 or 200 people. I am very satisfied with the way I was received." Schumacher's successful penalty conversion levelled the final score at 3-3, and the Santos coach added: "As a footballer he makes a very good racing driver."

Head for Change

Juan Pablo Montoya will be wearing a new design of crash helmet this weekend - but only on the surface. While World Champion Michael Schumacher and his helmet design team at Schuberth continue plans to create a high-tech design with flashing lights and sound proofing included, his rival chose to hand over responsibility of his lid design to some Colombian children. It is the second year that the Williams-BMW star has set up a competition for children in his native land to come up with an original design for him to wear in the only race on his South American continent. The competition was won by a 16 year-old girl and an 11 year-old boy and the girl's design will feature on Montoya's helmet while both prize-winners will be his guests in Interlagos.

Phillips Missing

Effervescent Formula One team boss Eddie Jordan will be forced to celebrate his 200th Grand Prix without a special friend this weekend after right-hand-man Ian Phillips, a former Autosport journalist turned team commercial director, was left at home nursing his newly-born son. Phillips' wife Sam gave birth to a son, Oscar, on the morning of April 1st and he was forced to miss out on the team festivities to have some personal celebrations at home. It is only the second race that Phillips has missed since Jordan's debut in 1991 and there are only two members of the team who have been to every one of the 200 Grands Prix - Jordan himself and Nick Burrows, who is currently the lead mechanic of Giancarlo Fisichella.

Caring Sauber

Sauber drivers Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Nick Heidfeld paid a visit to the Casa do Menor "Alegria e Esperanca" (Home for Minors, "Joy and Hope") children's home on the outskirts of the city ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix. For Heidfeld it marked a return to the place he visited two years ago and he was remembered by many of the 30 girls who are aged between seven and 15 years.

The pair played football with the children and Heidfeld, 25, noticed the improvements, telling Swiss paper Blick: "So many kids are suffering these days - from hunger, from oppression, from abuse. It's important that we stand up for them and help."

Frentzen, a parent himself, was happy to share his experiences with those in the home, and he said: "It is important for children to experience love and care from their parents but not all children in this world are that lucky. It's good to put a smile on some of their faces, even if it is just for a few moments."