Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F300 up for auction in California
Michael Schumacher negotiates the Monza chicane in his Ferrari F300. Italy, 1998.
The Ferrari F300 driven by Michael Schumacher is set to go under the hammer at an auction event in California.
New-look Formula 1 challengers took to the track in 1998, the cars narrower and on grooved tyres rather than slicks following changes to the regulations.
Ferrari’s interpretation was the F300, although in the early stages of the season it was McLaren’s MP4/13 which proved to be the benchmark.
The Scuderia and Schumacher fought back though as an epic clash brewed between the German and Mika Hakkinen in pursuit of the Drivers’ Championship, that prize ultimately going the way of the Finn.
And now the F300 chassis in which Schumacher claimed four of his six victories that season is up for auction at the Monterey Conference Centre in California, the auction taking place from August 18-20.
The Ferrari F300 that Michael Schumacher drove during the 1998 Formula 1 season is headed to auction 🔥
Schumacher won four races in the car that year, and bids are expected to reach up to $8 million. pic.twitter.com/rPPEMfAioN
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) August 2, 2022
This F300, powered by an 800hp, V10 engine, was sold to a private owner by Ferrari in 1999, although it is now on the market and looking in pristine condition, estimated to fetch between $6million and $8million.
Schumacher was, in fact, undefeated in this chassis, the first outing being at the Canadian Grand Prix, following that up with wins at the French and British GPs to make it three victories in succession as Schumacher firmly re-established himself in the title fight.
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza was where this F300 chassis made its final appearance, Schumacher winning that race too.
It was from the following season when Ferrari returned to the summit, winning the 1999 Constructors’ Championship to start a streak of six titles in succession.
Schumacher won five Drivers’ titles in a row between 2000 and 2004, making himself a seven-time World Champion – a record which stood alone until Lewis Hamilton equalled it in 2020 by clinching his seventh title.
Another day, another Ferrari disaster
Even Charles Leclerc labelled his strategy at Ferrari a "disaster" in Hungary.
