HomeCar CultureCommentarySchumacher-driven F1-winning Ferrari F2002 tops early docket for Abu Dhabi auction

Schumacher-driven F1-winning Ferrari F2002 tops early docket for Abu Dhabi auction

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RM Sotheby’s and Formula 1 have announced the first consignments for their collector car auction this fall at Abu Dhabi: the Ferrari F2002 that Michael Schumacher drove to three victories and the F1 championship, and a restored, low-mileage Ferrari F40 signed by racer Sebastian Vettel.

“We are delighted to come out of the gate for our inaugural auction in partnership with Formula 1 with such an amazing cornerstone consignment to the Abu Dhabi event,” Oliver Camelin, a RM Sotheby’s car specialist, is quoted in the auction house news release.

“The Michael Schumacher F2002, chassis no. 219, is truly special; it represents one of the last Rory Byrne-designed, V10 era cars and was like a guided missile in acquiring wins on route to a Championship won with sheer racing dominance. As a result, it remains as one of the most dominant Formula 1 racing cars in history and is fittingly joined by the ultimate in Ferrari supercars in the virtually as-new Ferrari F40.”

A percentage of the proceeds of the sale of the F2002 will benefit Schumacher’s Keep Fighting Foundation, RM Sotheby’s added.

Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari | Sutton Motorsports Images photo courtesy RM Sotheby’s

“The 2002 Ferrari F2002, chassis no. 219, was a pivotal piece of machinery in the 2002 Formula 1 season, which quickly became a race for second place as the legendary Michael Schumacher finished 1st or 2nd in every race,” RM Sotheby’s notes.

“Chassis no. 219 saw victory in the hands of Schumacher at three Grands Prix in 2002, including at Imola, Zeltweg, and Magny Cours, the last of which would secure Schumacher his 5th World Drivers’ Championship title; with six races remaining in the season it remains the shortest time in which a World Drivers’ Title has ever been clinched.

“Ferrari also secured the Constructors’ Championship title that year, with the F2002 seeing further podium finishes including 2nd with Schumacher at Monaco, and 2nd at Spa and 4th at Hockenheim with teammate Rubens Barrichello, who finished as runner up in the Drivers’ Championship.

“Chassis no. 219 was used as a test car in the remainder of the 2002 races and retired following the season. It has since been held in significant private collections across multiple continents.”

RM Sotheby’s expects the car to sell for $5.5 million to $7.5 million at the sale, scheduled for November 30 at the Yas Marina Circuit during the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.

1990 Ferrari F40 has rear wing autographed by Sebastian Vittel | RM Sotheby’s photo by Ahmed Qadri

The early docket also includes a Ferrari Classiche-certified, 1,140-kilometer 1990 F40, chassis ZFFGJ34B000084467, which has been autographed by 4-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel. RM Sotheby’s expects the F40 to sell for $1.5 million to $1.75 million.

The auction will be the first of its kind in the region and will be held on the first floor of the Formula 1 Paddock Club overlooking pit lane, which will serve as the auction block for the sale.

Larry Edsall
Larry Edsall
A former daily newspaper sports editor, Larry Edsall spent a dozen years as an editor at AutoWeek magazine before making the transition to writing for the web and becoming the author of more than 15 automotive books. In addition to being founding editor at ClassicCars.com, Larry has written for The New York Times and The Detroit News and was an adjunct honors professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

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