Schumi Popular As Ever

The Germans still have not recovered from Michael Schumacher's retirement from Formula One a year and a half ago. Organizers say that tickets have sold out for this weekend's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, but while I cannot dispute that, I did noticed a lot less traffic as I came in this morning to the track. The only traffic jam was created by the police.

What I can attest to, though, is that there may now be five German drivers in the sport - Nick Heidfeld, Timo Glock, Adrian Sutil, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg - but none of these drivers attracts anything like the excitement and crowd of autograph hunters and photographers as a sudden appearance of Michael Schumacher walking into the paddock at lunch today on his way to the Ferrari motor home, as I caught in the accompanying photo.

Of course, none of the other drivers has yet scored a victory - while Schumacher has nearly 100 to his name....

Michael Schumacher, the 7-time world champion, in the paddock in Hockenheim this morning. Photo (c) 2008 Brad Spurgeon licensed to About.com, Inc.