Get those chequebooks out, Michael Schumacher’s title-winning F2003 Ferrari will be up for auction in Geneva in the coming weeks. Designed by South African engineer Rory Byrne, the F2003 is estimated to sell for a whopping R169 million.
In the early 2000s, Michael Schumacher became a household name for the Tifosi and Formula 1 fans alike. At the peak of his career, the German had a reputation as a consistently ruthless and courageous driver who would stop at nothing to win. One of the single-seaters that cemented his legendary status was this; his title-winning F2003 Ferraris which will go under the hammer in Geneva.
Schumacher made his Formula One debut in 1991 and just 12 months later he won his first Grand Prix, driving for the Benetton team. That was the humble start of a long and illustrious career that came with numerous accolades and an undefeated seven World Championships. Micheal Schumacher officially retired from the top tier of motorsport in 2012 and is regarded as one of the most talented drivers of all time. In the span of his 21-year-long career, Schumacher drove numerous cars but there are memorable vehicles that played key features in his winning streak and career as a whole.
Related: The 1998 Ferrari F300 F1 Car driven by Michael Schumacher is now for sale
The Ferrari F2003, one of the most important single-seaters in Michael’s career, was only driven on the track nine times, winning five Grand Prix races in Spain, Austria, Canada, Italy and the United States. The Ferrari F2003 GA also known as chassis number 229 is also the very same car that Micheal Schumacher won his sixth World Championship title in. The F2003 is a historic piece of machinery for the Ferrari brand as it is marked as the most successful Ferrari F2003-GA Grand Prix car ever built.
Designed by South African Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn, the F2003 is entitled with initials honouring late Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli. The F2003 featured a longer wheelbase to improve aerodynamics intended to optimise its set-up on the Bridgestone rubber by shifting its weight bias to the rear during qualifying in order to prevent tyre overheating.
Presenting today as one of the most significant and historic cars from a golden period in the Scuderia’s history, chassis 229 has been awarded Ferrari Classiche’s “Red Book” Certification and has been recently overhauled in 2022 at the Maranello factory. Boasting a legendary 3,0-litre V10 engine that offers 630 kW with a top speed of 325 km/h, the F2003 is special because it has one of the final screaming V10s featured in Formula One.
The race car is said to be in ‘track ready’ condition and is described as one of the most exciting Formula One propositions to ever reach the open market by the auctioneer. Schumacher’s Ferrari will become the second-most expensive F1 car ever sold at auction if it manages to sell for its estimated $9,4 million roughly R168 826 350.
“It is special because this car is one of only four cars with more than four wins in Ferrari history and especially with one of the most skilled drivers of his generation, Michael Schumacher,” said Vincent Luzuy, executive assistant to the director of RM Sotheby’s sales.
