While Formula 1 cars going to auction aren’t exactly a rarity nowadays, one particular race rig bearing the names “Ferrari” and “Michael Schumacher” most certainly is.
The 1998 Ferrari F300 is widely credited as the catalyst for Scuderia Ferrari’s resurgence in the V10 era of Formula 1. Even though it won neither the drivers nor constructors championships, its importance in helping define Schumacher’s historic success cannot be ignored.
Overseen by technical director Ross Brawn, the F300 earned 19 podiums over the course of the 1998 season – Schumacher accounting for 11 of said podiums – resulting in second place finishes for both the drivers and constructors championships, behind McLaren-Mercedes’ Mika Hakkinen and McLaren-Mercedes itself.
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McLaren’s MP4/13 was aerodynamically superior, and ultimately, no one could stop the Flying Finn from claiming his maiden world title. And while Hakkinen wasn’t any less on-form during the next season, Ferrari would manage to clinch its first constructors title since 1983 thanks to the evolved version of the F300 (the F399).
The F300 (chassis 187) up for auction was owned by Ferrari until 1999 before it was sold privately with a box or two of spares in the race-used condition. Over the past 23 years, chassis 187 has been preserved with no sign of restoration or alteration from its glory days.
The 1998 Ferrari F300 of Michael Schumacher will go under the hammer via RM Sotheby’s flagship Monterey auction (as part of Monterey Car Week) and is expected to fetch anything between US$6,000,000 – US$8,000,000 (AU$8,500,000 – AU$11,500,000).
Find out more below.
Michael Schumacher’s Scuderia Ferrari (Model F300, Chassis No. 187) victories:
- June 7th, 1998 – Canadian Grand Prix (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve)
- June 28th, 1998 – French Grand Prix (Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours)
- July 12th, 1998 – British Grand Prix (Silverstone Circuit)
- September 13th – Italian Grand Prix (Autodromo Nazionale Monza)
