Retired Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher will be made an honorary citizen of Ferrari's home town, Maranello.
The town's governing council voted on Wednesday to bestow the honor on the German driver above all for winning five titles with Ferrari and helping it clinch six consecutive constructors' championships.
"During his splendid sporting career with Ferrari, Schumacher was also a companion for Maranello in one of the most important periods of its history," Mayor Lucia Bursi said.
"And Maranello wants to thank him for this by making him an honorary town citizen," she added.
"This is not just a formal honor but reflects a common feeling among all Maranello residents, who for some time have already considered 'Schumi' to be one of their own," the mayor said.
"His strong personality and work ethic are very similar to our own," Bursi observed.
When he retired at the end of this season at the age of 37, Schumacher was not only Ferrari's but Formula 1's most accomplished driver, winning a record seven world championships, five in a row behind the wheel of a Ferrari.
He was poised to clinch his sixth title with Ferrari this season, after an amazing comeback in the second half of the season, but in the next to last race blew his engine for the first time in over six years and 110 races.
The German won his first two titles with Benetton Renault before joining the Italian team.
Schumacher closed his career holding 20 world records which aside from those for the number of world championships included Grand Prix victories (91), the most pole positions (68) and overall points (1,369).
He also holds the records for the number of fastest laps (76), fastest laps in season (10), most points in a season (148 in 2004), the highest average of points per race (5.5) and most races in a season, 13 out of 18 in 2004.
In his 250 race starts, a record he shares with the late Riccardo Patrese, Schumacher also set records for the most podium finishes (154), consecutive podiums (19) and in 2002 he set a record by making the podium in all 17 races.
Schumacher has agreed to stay on at Ferrari where he will act as a "super consultant" to Jean Todt, who was promoted from race team director to company CEO at the end of this season.
