Michael Schumacher stands as one of the most distinguished drivers in the annals of motorsport. If a hypothetical Monument Valley of Formula 1 drivers existed, Schumacher’s visage would be chiseled into the rocks. Consequently, anything associated with Schumacher holds significant value. Even a mundane item found in his garbage could fetch enough on eBay to purchase a house. That’s why his Ferrari F1 car that triumphed in grands prix—chassis 198—is anticipated to be sold for a mind-boggling sum.
The Ferrari F1 car, which Schumacher steered during the 2000 season, will be up for auction at RM Sotheby’s event in Hong Kong on April 3. Notably, he clinched victory at the Brazilian grand prix while piloting the chassis 198 Ferrari. Interestingly, chassis 198 served as a backup car rather than his primary vehicle. During the qualification round for the Brazilian grand prix, Schumacher incurred damage to the main car’s undercarriage, relegating him to the third spot on the grid. Fortuitously, due to mechanical issues with Mika Häkkinen’s McLaren, Schumacher secured the win utilizing his backup car, Chassis 198.
Chassis 198 was pressed into service on three additional occasions during the 2000 season. In races at Catalunya and Monaco, Schumacher secured pole position during qualifying and led for a significant portion of the race, only to be foiled by mechanical and tire issues. Its final outing in Austria saw Schumacher qualifying in third but exiting the race prematurely due to a collision from behind by another driver. Although the crash did not cause extensive damage, it was sufficient to prevent the car from participating further.
Following the Austrian grand prix, chassis 198 was retired from professional racing. Nevertheless, Schumacher went on to clinch his inaugural Ferrari F1 driver’s championship in 2000, underscoring the significance of 198’s role in that season. After the culmination of the 2000 season, Ferrari undertook the restoration of car 198, and it was acquired by Ferrari enthusiast Kevin Crowder, based in Texas, in 2001. Subsequently, it changed hands to the current seller in 2016.
Adding to its allure, car 198 originates from the esteemed V10 era of F1 racing. It boasted a 3.0-liter V10 engine propelling 805 horsepower at a deafening 17,300 revolutions per minute. The distinctive sound of the V10 engines during that era alone contributes to their adoration. As previously mentioned, the anticipated price is nothing short of exorbitant.
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