Grapevine: Schumacher Motors into Swiss Town

Ferrari's World Champion Michael Schumacher has bought an estate near Geneva where his next door neighbour will be Swiss biotech billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, whose boat Alinghi leads the America's Cup challengers series.

The German driver is believed to have paid 15 million Swiss francs (6.6 million pounds) for the vast lakefront property known as La Reserve in the town of Gland, the daily Le Matin reported.

"He and his wife fell in love with the place at first sight. They love nature and horses," his lawyer Bertrand Gros said.

Schumacher clinched a record-equalling fifth World Championship after dominating the 2002 season with 11 wins in 17 races. He already lives in French-speaking western Switzerland near Lausanne and plays football for the local club.

He and his wife Corinna announced last May they had decided to stay in the region after environmentalists blocked plans for a luxury home in German-speaking eastern Switzerland, where they had hoped to offer their children a German-language education.

The move brings him closer to Alain Prost, who lives in the area. Schumacher has won 64 career races to lead the all-time standings, 13 more than the Frenchman's second-highest tally.

Other famous residents of the area include British singer and songwriter Phil Collins and his third wife Orianne.