Michael Schumacher's Monaco GP-winning Ferrari sells for record $7.5 million
Michael Schumacher’s final Monaco Grand Prix-winning Ferrari has sold for $7.5 million at auction – a record for a modern-era F1 car.
The seven-time world champion’s F2001 car was auctioned off at the Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Sale in New York.
Its $7m price tag is well over the $4m that it was expected to fetch.
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Chassis #211 was the car that helped take the German to the fourth of his world titles in 2001.
Part of the proceeds of the sale will go to the Michael Schumacher’s Keep Fighting Foundation – set up to pay for his care following the catastrophic brain injuries he suffered in a skiing accident in December 2013.
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He won nine races in total during the 2001 season in chassis #211, securing a second consecutive title for Ferrari with nearly twice as many points as McLaren driver David Coulthard, who finished the season in second.
It was sold as part of a $310.2million-worth of sales at the Sotheby’s auction, with 96% of lots finding a buyer.
Schumacher, now 48, fell into a coma following the skiing accident and there have been conflicting reports over the intervening years as to his progress.
He is being cared for around the clock at his home in Switzerland and those close to him remain hopeful he will one day at least be seen again in public.
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Last year, his team were forced to deny claims published in a German magazine that he was able to walk.
Latest reports have suggested Schumacher will be taken to Texas for specialist treatment – again, these reports have not been confirmed officially by his family.