Michael Schumacher’s rare 220mph Ferrari Formula One car, a piece of racing history, is set to be auctioned, with expectations of fetching millions of pounds.
This iconic car, driven by the seven-time Formula One World Champion during the 2002 Formula 1 campaign, is the Ferrari F2001B which Michael Schumacher piloted to victory at the Australian Grand Prix. This triumph was a crucial step toward securing his fifth world title later that year.
Michael Schumacher also raced the same car to a remarkable third-place finish at the Malaysian Grand Prix, after an impressive comeback from 21st place following an early pit stop. Following this race, the German driver transitioned from the Ferrari F2001B to the Ferrari F2002 for the remainder of the 20222 Formula 1 campaign.
Now, this historic 3.0-litre V10 Ferrari, a key part of Michael Schumacher’s 2002 Formula 1 World Championship campaign, is up for auction by RM Sotheby’s, expected to attract a staggering price.
A RM Sotheby’s spokesperson explained: “Ever since the dawn of automobiles becoming collectible items, competition cars have comprised the most desirable tier due to their rarity and special aura achieved through victory on the track. For the past several decades Formula 1 has been the undisputed leader in top level motorsport and has evolved into a global household sport. Where legendary names such as [Ayrton] Senna, Schumacher, and [Lewis] Hamilton will undoubtedly be remembered and recited for generations to come.”
“The groundbreaking technology developed from these high-performance marvels has fuelled hundreds if not thousands of supercars, which have also reached top-level collectable status. It is the F1 cars, however, produced in extremely limited numbers of no more than six to 12 chassis each year, that have the potential to become the true kings of the collector car market in the future. With only approximately 30 Michael Schumacher race-winning Ferraris in existence, a supply number very similar to the 250 GTO and 250 Testa Rossa production numbers of the 1950s and 1960s. These examples are among the most elite of all modern collector cars, with the population slimming down to just over a dozen examples if you are set on finding the very best from a World Championship-winning year. Further consider that the majority of these rarefied Ferraris are locked away in long-term collections; each example to come to market represents an opportunity that no astute, forward-looking collector can afford to ignore.” – the spokesperson added.
The auction for the iconic Ferrari is scheduled from August 15 to 17 in Monterey, California. With a guide price reaching up to £7.7 million, this sale follows a previous auction last year where the same car fetched £6 million.
The spokesperson continued: “With a victory at the 2002 Australian Grand Prix and a further third place podium at Malaysia in 2002, this very car – chassis 215 helped propel Michael Schumacher to a then record-tying fifth World Championship. Cementing the car’s legacy among the very best of all competition Ferraris to leave Maranello.”
Tragically, Ferrari F1 legend Michael Schumacher has been absent from public view for over a decade following a severe head injury sustained in a skiing accident in 2013.
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