Some race cars never really fade away as they carry stories in their carbon fiber, and one of those cars is about to change hands as Michael Schumacher’s 1997 Ferrari F310B is heading to auction later this month, and collectors are already circling.
The car will go under the hammer in Paris on January 28 through RM Sotheby’s, with an estimated value between €5.5 million and €7.5 million. That number alone explains that this is no ordinary piece of machinery, as it is tied to one of F1’s most intense seasons and one of the sport’s greatest drivers.
F310B Still Matters in Michael Schumacher’s Story
Schumacher’s name still carries weight in F1 due to an era of dominance with Ferrari that changed the team’s history forever. Long before the championships started racking up in the early 2000s, 1997 was a key chapter in his Ferrari journey.
The F310B up for sale is chassis 179, which Schumacher used during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. That alone gives it a special place in history as Spa was always one of Schumacher’s strongest tracks, and it was where he took his first F1 win in 1992 with Benetton.
Although chassis 179 did not race at Spa, it was later driven by Eddie Irvine in the Italian and Austrian Grand Prix, and was also kept as a spare for the Luxembourg and Japanese rounds. Even when it was not on track, it was part of Ferrari’s frontline operation, standing by in case it was ever needed.
According to RM Sotheby’s, the car retains its original engine, gearbox, chassis, and bodywork, which is also certified by Ferrari Classiche and accompanied by its Red Book. Additionally, spare parts are included, such as BBS wheels, race harnesses, jacks, and other necessary equipment.
From a technical point of view, the F310B was powered by a 3-liter V10 engine and was the final Ferrari designed by John Barnard before he left the team, which alone adds another layer of importance. It marked the end of an era in Ferrari design and the beginning of the path that eventually led to Schumacher’s dominant championship years.
The 1997 season was not an easy one for Schumacher or Ferrari, as the team was still rebuilding and learning how to win again. Schumacher fought hard all year against Jacques Villeneuve in the Williams, won five races, and dragged the Ferrari into a title fight that few expected.
It did not end well, as Schumacher was disqualified from the championship after his clash with Villeneuve at the final race. Nevertheless, the season showed just how much he was willing to give for Ferrari, as he laid the groundwork for everything that followed.
That is why cars like the F310B mean so much, as they are not just old race cars but are chapters from a bigger story. They remind fans of a time when Ferrari was clawing its way back, just as it is now, and Schumacher was still building his legend in red.
F310B’s Journey to the Auction Room
After its time in F1, chassis 179 was sold by Ferrari in 1999 to a group of collectors. In 2014, it was acquired by the Audrain Auto Museum in Newport, Rhode Island. It has since appeared at several public events, including the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed, marking Schumacher’s 50th birthday, and is now ready for a new home.
Seven-figure sales are nothing new for Schumacher cars, but each one still draws attention as his Benetton from 1992 is also being auctioned this month, making it a rare moment where two key cars from his career are both on the market.
The F310B may not be the car that won him a title, but it is part of the story that led there, and that alone makes it valuable in the hearts of racing fans.
