The Formula 1 race car that kickstarted Michael Schumacher’s winning streak with Ferrari is set to go under the hammer at auction next month. The 2000 Ferrari F2000 – chassis 198 – is being sold in Hong Kong by RM Sotheby’s from April 3 to April 12. And the German racing icon’s vehicle is set to command a mega price after his 2003 title-winning car was sold at auction for $14.8million (£12.9m) in November.
The legendary F1-2000, which will be offered at a Sotheby’s, helped the German driver achieve his first World Championship for the Prancing Horse in 2000 and brought the marque its first World title in 21 years. Schumacher would go on to win four consecutive championships with Ferrari in what was an unprecedented period of dominance in the sport. The lightning-fast single-seater was equipped with redesigned 90-degree V-10 engine that could churn out roughly 780 horses via a seven-speed gearbox. This particular example (Chassis 198) was originally used as the team’s spare car but was swapped in after Schumacher damaged his racer qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix. He also drove it to pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix – the only pole position achieved by Schumacher at that circuit with Ferrari.
“There is no greater name in the pantheon of motorsport than Ferrari, and few more decorated or celebrated drivers than Michael Schumacher. Together, Schumacher and the Scuderia formed a history-making partnership, winning five back-to-back Formula One World Drivers’ Championships between 2000 and 2004 and topping the Constructors’ table no fewer than six times.” Shelby Myers, global head of private sales at RM Sotheby’s, said in a statement.
Chassis 198 will be offered via a Sotheby’s Sealed auction that will run from April 3 to 12. Prior to the sale, the car will be on display in Hong Kong from April 1 to 6. The estimate is available upon request.