The latest Sotheby’s Sealed offering is a race-winning Ferrari F1-2000, piloted to victory at the 2000 Brazilian Grand Prix by Michael Schumacher during his first championship-winning season at Ferrari. With that win, chassis number 198 played a significant role in securing Schumacher’s first championship.

With this car, Schumacher also secured pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix, and a fifth overall finish at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Chassis 198’s final race with Schumacher took place about five weeks later at the A1-Ring in Austria. Schumacher qualified chassis 198 in 3rd position with teammate Barrichello just behind him in 4th. Unfortunately, luck was not on the Scuderia’s side at Austria as right at the start of the race Ricardo Zonta, in his BAR-Honda, hit Schumacher from behind, forcing both to retire from the race. Schumacher was not hurt and the damage to the car was light, however, it was enough to end its racing for the day. The car was subsequently repaired by Ferrari and brought to all of the remaining Grand Prix races of the 2000 season but was not used again in Grand Prix competition.

Once chassis 198’s Scuderia Ferrari career had drawn to a close, the car was returned to Maranello, where it was completely rebuilt. In March of 2001, the car was displayed at the Geneva Motor Show on Ferrari’s stand and subsequently sold to Ferrari collector Kevin Crowder of Texas, who had the car Ferrari Classiche certified in 2005 and prepared for use in F1 Clienti events.

The consignor purchased chassis 198 in 2016, and has also driven it in several Ferrari Corse Clienti events, including the Ferrari F1 Clienti events held in Monza in 2017 and at Austin, Texas, in 2020. Today, it offers its next owner an opportunity to experience the unique thrill of a race-winning V-10 grand prix car from one of the golden periods of Formula One. This car also stands as a tangible link to one of the greatest drivers of the modern era—a piece of history instrumental in the revival of Scuderia Ferrari’s fortunes and a touchstone of Schumacher’s incredible five-season winning streak.

More information about the auction, which runs from April 3-12 can be found HERE.