Although Ferrari's Michael Schumacher may trail Fernando Alonso in the Formula 1 drivers championship, but he is the big winner when it comes to popularity among the sport's fans, local media reported Tuesday.

Ferrari's Formula One driver Michael Schumacher of Germany celebrates on the podium after winning the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza race track in northern Italy September 10, 2006. Schumacher, the most successful Formula One driver of all time, announced on Sunday that he was retiring from the sport at the end of the season. [File Photo/Reuters]

A new poll, commissioned by the world racing authority FIA and posted on its website on Tuesday, found that Schumacher was four times more popular than Renault's world champion driver.

The second most popular driver in the FIA poll was Kimi Raikkonen, the McLaren driver who next season will take Schumacher's place at Ferrari.

Honda's Jenson Button placed third in the poll, one spot above Alonso.

Ferrari was by far the favorite Formula 1 team among fans, while McLaren-Mercedes was a distant second and Renault and Williams tied for third.

Schumacher, who this month announced his retirement from racing, is currently two points behind Alonso for the 2006 title with three races left to go.

If he wins the championship this year, Schumacher will end his career with an unprecedented total of eight titles, six of them with Ferrari.

Alonso last year dethroned Schumacher as champion after a record five consecutive world titles.

The next race is the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai this Sunday, which will be followed a week later by the Japanese Grand Prix before the season closes on October 22 in Brazil.

The FIA poll was taken in July among over 90,000 fans in 180 countries and regions, report said