The Ferrari That Made History
Some machines go beyond performance. They become legends. That’s exactly what happened on a sunny Saturday in Monaco, when the iconic Ferrari F2001, once driven by Michael Schumacher, sold for a jaw-dropping €15.98 million.
Held by RM Sotheby’s inside the Monaco Grand Prix Paddock Club, the auction drew collectors from around the world. Just two bidders—one in the room, the other online—drove the price from €8 million to its record-breaking final bid.
Not only is it now the most expensive Ferrari driven by Schumacher ever sold, but it also ranks among the most valuable Formula 1 cars in history.
A Monument to a Glorious Season
This wasn’t just any Formula 1 car. It’s the same F2001 that earned Schumacher his fifth win at Monaco and sealed his 2001 World Championship at the Hungarian Grand Prix. That victory also allowed him to tie Alain Prost’s 51 career wins, marking a major milestone in the sport.
The 2001 season was pivotal for Ferrari. In fact, this F2001 remains the last Scuderia car to win both Monaco and the championship in the same year. While Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel have claimed wins in the Principality since, neither season ended with a world title.
The Market for Icons
The F2001 has a strong history in the collector’s market. Back in 2017, it sold for €6.4 million, a record at the time. However, that figure was topped in 2022 by another Schumacher car, the F2003-GA, which sold for €11.61 million.
Now, the F2001 ranks as the fourth most expensive F1 car ever auctioned, just behind icons like the Mercedes W196 R once driven by Juan Manuel Fangio, which sold for over €51 million.
“The F2001 isn’t just a car. It’s a moment in time, frozen in carbon fiber and chrome,” said a spokesperson from RM Sotheby’s.
Why It Matters to Luxury Collectors
Buyers in this market aren’t just chasing horsepower. Instead, they’re investing in milestones, legends, and cultural icons. The F2001 embodies all three: a legendary driver, a historic season, and timeless engineering.
Much like our feature on the $15,000 Hermès headphones, this sale confirms that today’s luxury often lives in the stories objects carry with them.
The Bigger Picture
The timing of this sale—held during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend—was no accident. Monaco has always stood at the intersection of speed and opulence. For instance, just ask those sipping crystal cocktails on Portofino’s designer-studded terraces.
This Ferrari is more than a race car. It’s a symbol of a golden era, sold in one of the world’s most exclusive settings.
Final Thoughts
The magic of this auction lay in its timing, location, and subject. Ultimately, the sale might be over, but the legend of the F2001 continues to shine—now in the hands of a discreet collector who paid nearly €16 million for a piece of racing history.