North Rhine-Westphalia, the home state of the seven-time Formula One world champion, will hold a ceremony to honor Schumacher in July
The German state of North Rhine-Westphalia will award Michael Schumacher with its highest honor. The 'Staatspreis' (state award) will be duly presented in recognition of the achievements of the driver, who was born in the region - more precisely, in the city of Hürth.
The award ceremony will take place on July 20 at Motorworld in Cologne. The venue houses the Schumacher family's private collection of Formula 1 cars, as well as memorabilia associated with the seven-time champion's career.
"Michael Schumacher's work as a sportsman and supporter of good causes radiates far beyond the borders of his home state," said North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst, who also called the former Ferrari driver "one of the outstanding personalities in the history of world sport," as well as "always keeping his feet on the ground and always looking out for his fellow man.
Michael's wife Corinna, as well as their two children - Gina and Mick, the latter competing in the current Formula 1 season for Haas - will be present at the ceremony and will accept the honor on behalf of the former driver. Former head of the Italian racing team and former president of the FIA (International Automobile Federation), Jean Todt is also expected to attend.
Schumacher will be the 58th person to receive North Rhine-Westphalia's top honor. The most recent state award to be bestowed was on September 16, 2019, presented to Klaus Töpfer for "his decades of outstanding commitment to conservation and in recognition of his international services to environmental protection, as well as nature conservation and global sustainable development."