Michael Schumacher’s first Ferrari is for sale

As Lewis Hamilton joins Maranello to attempt the great challenge of Ferrari, it’s impossible not to think of Michael Schumacher.

In 1995, Michael Schumacher was at the top of Formula 1. After winning his first world title with Benetton in 1994, he confirmed his dominance over the premier category by claiming a second championship. In 1996, the man not yet known as the Red Baron was about to take on a completely crazy challenge. Schumacher joined Ferrari, the legendary team that all drivers dream of but which was no longer the shadow of its past glory. The rest belongs to legend.

To celebrate this arrival, Ferrari gifted him a company car, a brand new F355 GTS. Released in 1995, this beauty was neither the most expensive nor the most powerful in the Italian manufacturer’s lineup, but it was perfect for the new star driver of the Scuderia who wanted to use it daily. Produced in early 1996, the car features an elegant Le Mans Blue hue and a Pella Crema leather interior, very different from the iconic red of the cars he drove in competition. A nice little detail — Schumacher himself apparently chose the configuration with a classic manual gearbox, a choice you can agree is a friend of good taste.

Delivered in late April 1996 to his manager Willi Weber’s company, just after the European Grand Prix, the car was mainly used by Schumacher in Monaco. Its first service, in May 1996, showed it had already covered over 1,600 km in just a few weeks!

Resold in 2004 during the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, it has since been cared for by its current owner, an enthusiast who uses it regularly for pleasure and automotive events. Now with less than 47,500 km on the clock, it was certified by Ferrari Classiche in 2020. Although its engine isn’t original, it remains perfectly compliant with the model.

This rare and elegant F355 GTS is more than just a sports car. It’s a piece of history linked to one of the greatest drivers of all time. Whether you are a Schumacher fan, a Ferrari lover, or both, this car is a true treasure eager to write a new chapter with its future owner. Proudly bearing Schumacher’s signature on the driver’s seat backrest, it is being auctioned by RM Sotheby’s between February 4 and 7.

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