Sotheby's to auction rare ex-Schumacher winning Ferrari F2001

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RM Sotheby's has announced that it will auction a rare landmark F1 car associated with the career of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.

The precious piece of motorsport history is a winning Ferrari F2001 - chassis 211 - which the F1 legend drove to victory in two races during the 2001 season, including the Monaco Grand Prix.

Schumacher clinched his fourth world title in 2001, with the F2001 playing a pivotal role.

Remarkably, the Sotheby's auction which takes place in New York on November 16 will present the car as a work of modern art alongside the likes of Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon and Jean-Michel Basquiat, rather than having it go under the hammer at a dedicated auction of historic racing cars.

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"We are pleased to join Ferrari’s 70th anniversary celebrations by offering Michael Schumacher’s Grand Prix winning Ferrari F2001 in November," said Gregoire Billault, head of Sotheby’s Contemporary Art, New York.

"Ferrari and Schumacher are the greatest names in motor-racing, with a place in the public imagination that is synonymous with the highest achievements in the field.

"It is therefore entirely fitting that we offer the car that represents the pinnacle of that success alongside the great names in contemporary art such as Warhol, Basquiat, and Johns."

The truly special race-winning Ferrari has a guide price well in excess of $4 million according to RM Sotheby's.

It is perhaps the perfect early Christmas gift for the typical well-heeled F1 connoisseur.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.