Video: Mick Schumacher drives father's F2002 at Fiorano

©Sotheby's

40

After driving his dad's championship-winning Ferrari F2004 at Hockenheim last summer, Mick Schumacher sampled another piece of family history this week.

The 20-year-old F2 racer put his father's massively successful F2002 through its paces with a spine-tingling run at Fiorano, just two weeks before the car goes under the hammer at the RM Sotheby's Abu Dhabi auction on November 30.

Designed by Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne, the Ferrari F2002 accumulated 15 wins from a total of 19 races in 2002 and in the early part of 2003 in the hands of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello.

©Sotheby's

Powered by a 3-liter V10 engine, the dominant machine - and chassis 219 in particular - was instrumental in delivering to Schumacher his fifth world crown.

"Bringing together Mick and the F2002 was a special moment for everyone involved as well as an historic moment for both Formula 1 and Ferrari," said Oliver Camelin, Car Specialist, RM Sotheby’s, following the track day.

"To witness Michael’s son, in this incredible car, at the home of Scuderia Ferrari was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and truly underlined the significance of the F2002 to Michael and Ferrari’s racing legacy."

©Sotheby's

Acquiring such an iconic piece of F1 and Schumacher history will come with a hefty price tag, with the F2002 currently estimated at anything between $5.5m to $7.5m.

But a battle between a few enthusiastic and well-heeled bidders in Abu Dhabi is likely to see the car's final auction price comfortably top those estimates.

In the short film below, footage of Michael Schumacher in F2002 intertwines with images of his son stepping behind the wheel of chassis 219 for the very first time as two exponents of Schumacher history come together at Fiorano.

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.