The Formula One Ferrari in which seven-times World Champion Michael Schumacher won his final Monaco Grand Prix and captured his fourth title at the Hungarian Grand Prix is to be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s in New York.
Designed and built under the supervision of Jean Todt, Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne and Paolo Martinelli, chassis F2001 #211 was a hugely successful machine which helped German ace Schumacher match and then surpass Alain Prost’s record of 51 Formula One wins. It carried Schumacher to victory in nine Grands Prix during the 2001 season, and by season’s end he had nearly doubled the points tally of nearest rival David Coulthard.
The Ferrari was powered by a screaming three-litre V10 engine producing between 800 to 900bhp, depending on its state of tune, while handling was assisted by cutting-edge Bridgestone tyres, which were fine-tuned to suit Schumacher’s driving style. So effective was the race car that it began the 2002 season in a lightly modified form, yet still proved quick enough to win the season opener in Melbourne.
Greg MacLeman is a contributor to and former Features Editor of Classic & Sports Car, and drives a restored and uprated 1974 Triumph 2500TC
