By 1995, it was clear to everyone in Formula 1 that Michael Schumacher was a generational talent, and perhaps a driver the likes of which the sport had never seen. After winning his maiden championship with Benetton in 1994, in a car that many believed to be undeserving of the championship itself, he followed up with a repeat championship in 1995. Nineteen ninety-six would be different, and Schumacher would be lured away from Benetton to the team every racing driver wanted to race for: Ferrari. 

Going into 1996, it was only fair that Ferrari gave their new driver a road car of his own to use and enjoy as he saw fit; the very F355 GTS offered here, allegedly the first Ferrari Michael Schumacher used whilst driving for the Scuderia. Introduced in 1995, it was the newest model in Ferrari’s lineup, a perfect fit for the team’s newest driver.

Built in early 1996, Schumacher’s F355 GTS is beautifully finished in Blu Le Mans (516/C) with a painted roof over Pella Crema (A 3997) leather, a stark contrast to the fantastic V-10 powered cars painted Rosso Corsa that he drove on circuits around the world. Said to have been configured personally by Schumacher, perhaps the car’s most important feature was its traditional six-speed manual gearbox, rather than the optional Formula 1-style automated manual, offering the two-time world champion a change of pace from his day job. 

The car’s service book notes that it was delivered to Weber Management GmbH (the company of Michael Schumacher’s manager, Willi Weber) on 30 April 1996, and was delivered via Ferrari Deutschland GmbH in Wiesbaden. This would have been just two days after the European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, where Schumacher finished second. 

It appears that the car was used by Schumacher at his residence in Monaco, as the car received its first service at Monaco Motors, the official Ferrari dealership in Monaco, on 5 May 1996, having already covered 1,639 km, and just in time for him to have present during that year’s Monaco Grand Prix. A letter on file from Monaco Motors, the Ferrari service centre for Monaco, confirms that the GTS belonged to Schumacher and was serviced at their facility for him until September 1997. An undated German newspaper clipping, on file in the historical documents, shows Schumacher driving the car in Monaco. Although it is not known how long Weber Management owned the F355 GTS nor how long it was used by Schumacher, the car came into the ownership of Pierre Valentin of Mougins, France in May of 2002 and later Christopher Allen of Vallauris. 

The F355 GTS was acquired by the current owner at auction in 2004 during that year’s Monaco Historic Grand Prix where it was being sold as Schumacher’s former personal vehicle. The current owner has very much used and enjoyed the car as its manufacturers intended. Believed to be the car’s third owner after Weber Management, he always had a soft spot for the F355 and purchased it due to its beautiful specifications and fascinating Schumacher history. Prior to the current owner’s acquisition, the back of the driver’s seat was signed by Schumacher, and upon his purchase the car was supplied by a letter from Monaco Motors, the official Ferrari dealership in Monaco, confirming that the car was serviced by them whilst in Schumacher’s care in September of 1997.

According to the consignor, in his capacity as a motoring journalist following Formula 1 during the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix, he had the opportunity to approach Michael Schumacher when he was driving for Mercedes-AMG and asked him about his old F355 GTS. To his surprise, Schumacher instantly remembered the car when shown a photo, remarking that he was happy it found a new home with a true enthusiast.

Not afraid to enjoy his new F355 GTS to the fullest, the car was driven straight home to Belgium from Monaco when purchased and has been used regularly by him, being driven simply for fun or to various car events in his native Belgium. It has been featured in three different magazine articles whilst in its current ownership: the November 2006 issue of Forza magazine, the March 2013 issue of the German magazine Ferrari World, and the June 2021 issue of Auto Trends Classic magazine, which was published in both Dutch and French. In 2017, the car won Best of Show at Spa Italia in Belgium. Minichamps even made a series of 1:43 scale models of this car in a display with Michael Schumacher as the background. Having been driven approximately 21,000 km prior to his purchase, the car is showing just under 47,500 km from new at the time of cataloguing.

The car was granted Ferrari Classiche certification in 2020, confirming that it retains its original chassis, gearbox, bodywork, and is finished in its original colour combination. The Classiche certification also confirms that the car is no longer fitted with its original engine, but one of the correct type. Rumour has it that the car was equipped with an up-rated engine when delivered new to Michael Schumacher, but this has yet to be proven conclusively. The car was fitted with the current engine prior to the consignor’s purchase in 2004.

Throughout its current ownership, the car has always been serviced by authorized Ferrari service centres and serviced as advised at regular intervals. Numerous invoices from its current ownership are on file, as well as invoices from Monaco Motors in 2002 and 2004 prior to its acquisition by the consignor. The F355 GTS’ last major service was carried out by F.M.A Ferrari in September 2024 and included fitting a new windscreen, new rear brake pads, timing belts, spark plugs, a new battery, and restoration of the dashboard.

Unquestionably one of the greatest racing drivers in any discipline, Michael Schumacher heralded in a new age of dominance for Scuderia Ferrari in F1, returning the team to the top step of the podium in both the constructors’ and drivers’ championships. Likewise, the F355 is considered by many to be a watershed moment in Ferrari’s modern history, a truly fabulous driver’s car worthy of the Cavallino Rampante. 

Even when not considering its Schumacher connection, this is a fabulous example of one of Ferrari’s most desirable mid-engined sports cars, finished in a seldom-seen colour scheme, in the rare and desirable GTS body style, and equipped with the must-have option of a six-speed manual gearbox. Schumacher’s connection with the car only adds to its allure, and needless to say, this is an opportunity not to be missed.