A 2003 Ferrari F2003 GA Formula 1 Single-Seater racing car driven to five victories by Michael Schumacher is on sale at the RM Sotheby’s Geneva 2022 auction.
NOTE: This 2003 Ferrari F2003 GA F1 car sold for an astonishing CHF14,630,000 (US$ 14,880,000) at the Sotheby’s Luxury Week sale 2022 in Geneva.
The 2003 Ferrari F2003 GA F1 car in which Michael Schumacher won his sixth driver’s world championship, in addition to five overall Grand Prix victories, is offered for sale in a Geneva auction arranged in cooperation with RM Sotheby’s in November 2022. The racing car was overhauled by Ferrari in 2022 and is in fully operational condition. No estimate has been released yet but at least three Schumacher Ferraris have sold for over $6 million at auction.
Sotheby’s Luxury Week Sale in Geneva 2022
The special Schumacher Ferrari F1 will be sold at Sotheby’s Luxury Week in Geneva on 9 November 2022. As in 2017, when RM Sotheby’s sold Michael Schumacher’s Grand Prix-winning Ferrari F2001 for a record $7,504,000 in Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in New York, this race-winning Ferrari will be offered in a Sotheby’s sale without a particularly strong focus on cars (or racing). Back then, as probably in 2022, the unofficial claim was that that was where the real big money was (and the car was offered without the distraction of other automobiles as would have been the case at for example Monterey Week.)
Schumacher Race-Winning Ferrari at Sotheby’s Geneva 2022
The 2003 Ferrari F2003-GA, chassis #229, was driven by Michael Schumacher to five Grand Prix victories in 2003, three pole positions, three fastest laps, and a further two podium positions. It was also the car in which Michael Schumacher secured his sixth driver’s championship when finishing eighth at the Japanese GP.
No estimate has been released for the Ferrari but given recent sale prices — see records below — less than $6 million is certainly not going to buy the car. This 2003 Ferrari F2003-GA is one of only four Schumacher-era Ferrari Formula 1 chassis with five wins or more in a World Championship winning season. Schumacher raced it nine times and claimed five wins, two third places, and one eighth (which secured the championship) to make it the most successful chassis of the 2003 season and one of the winningest Schumacher Ferraris overall.
2003 Ferrari F2003-GA at Sotheby’s Geneva 2022 Auction
The 2003 F2003-GA, featuring the GA initials to honor the recently passed Fiat boss, Gianni Agnelli, was a revised version of the previous season’s F2002. Designed by Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn, the F2003-GA featured new developments including a longer wheelbase to improve aerodynamics. Boasting one of the final V-10s featured in Formula One, the car produces 930-bhp and a rev limit of an astonishing 19,000 rpm.
During Schumacher’s title-winning 2003 Formula One season, he secured a remarkable five victories in chassis #229: the Grand Prix in Spain, Austria, Canada, Italy, and the United States. Furthermore, the car secured three pole positions, three fastest laps, and a further two podium finishes in Monaco and France. This astonishing race record made chassis #229 instrumental in securing the sixth World Championship for Michael Schumacher, which at that time surpassed Fangio’s 46-year record, as well as gifting Ferrari its fifth consecutive constructor’s title.
Chassis #229 is presented in full track-ready condition, having recently had a shakedown on the Fiorano circuit by the current F1 driver and son of Michael, Mick Schumacher. The car benefits from a full service and preparation by Scuderia Ferrari and comes with full Red Book Classiche certification. The engine has been run for just 148 miles since its overhaul, and the remainder of the drivetrain including the gearbox and clutch have only covered a small amount of their lifecycle.
Record Formula 1 Car Prices at Public Auction
The most expensive Formula 1 single-seater racing car ever sold at public auction was a 1954 Mercedes Benz W196R that achieved $29,650,000 at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013 sale.
The four most expensive (nominal) modern Formula 1 cars were all race winners sold by RM Sotheby’s:
- The record car is Michael Schumacher’s Grand Prix-winning Ferrari F2001 sold in Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in November 2017 for $7,504,000.
- The second most expensive modern Formula 1 car is the Lewis Hamilton-driven 2010 McLaren MP4-25A at £4,836,000 / $6,741,384 in 2021 — the only Hamilton car ever sold in a public auction.
- The third most expensive Formula 1 racer is the Michael Schumacher’s 2002 Ferrari F2002 F1 Car, chassis #219, sold for $6,643,750 in Abu Dhabi 2019.
- The fourth most expensive Formula 1 car is also a Michael Schumacher race winner — the 1998 Ferrari F300 driven to four victories in a non-championship-winning year sold for $6,220,000 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022.
