**Historic Ferrari Driven by Michael Schumacher Auctions for Record £13.43 Million**

This auction marks a pivotal moment for collectors and fans of Formula One, highlighting the enduring allure of racing heritage.

The iconic Ferrari F2001, piloted to victory by Formula One legend Michael Schumacher during the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix, has fetched a staggering 15.98 million euros (£13.43 million) at an auction. This remarkable transaction took place through RM Sotheby’s just ahead of this year’s Monaco Grand Prix qualifying. The car’s sale not only signifies a record for the highest price paid for a vehicle once driven by the German driver, 56, but it also ranks as the fourth most expensive Formula 1 car ever sold at auction.

In 2001, Schumacher demonstrated his racing prowess in the F2001, not only clinching the Monaco title but also securing victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix and earning the fourth of his eventual seven world championships for that season. The record for the highest price ever paid for an F1 car has recently been set in February, with a Mercedes 'streamliner' raced by legends Sir Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio fetching an astounding £42.75 million.

Before this auction, Schumacher held the record for the most expensive car sold that he drove, with an F2003 fetching £9.75 million back in 2002. As Ferrari aims to recapture the magic of Schumacher’s legacy during the upcoming race, Charles Leclerc has secured a competitive position, qualifying second on the grid behind McLaren's Lando Norris, setting the stage for an exciting race in Monte Carlo.