On Thursday evening at Paris’ Hotel Matignon, Michael Schumacher accepted the Legion d’honneur prize from French prime minister François Fillon.
Among the guests at the ceremony were the seven time world champion’s friend, former Ferrari boss and current FIA president Jean Todt, as well as ex-F1 driver Jean Alesi.
"To find a relevant comparison (to Schumacher), one must go back to the origins of formula one and the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio, your only rival," Fillon is quoted by French media as having said to the 41-year-old German.
Earlier this month, Lotus team principal and AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes received the same French decoration for his contributions to aviation.
Established by Napoleon in 1802, the Officier of the Legion d’honneur is the highest honour the government of France can award to a non-French citizen.