Michael Schumacher-driven 1997 Ferrari F310B F1 car expected to reach seven-figure sum at auction

A 1997 Ferrari F310 B Formula 1 car, driven by seven-time champion Michael Schumacher at the Belgian Grand Prix weekend and Eddie Irvine at the Italian and Austrian grands prix, has gone up for auction with an estimated price of €5,500,000-€7,500,000.

According to the listing with RM Sotheby's, the car retains its original engine, gearbox, chassis and bodywork. The listing also states: "Significantly, chassis 179 has also been certified by Ferrari Classiche in January 2007 and is offered with its 'Red Book' along with a number of spare parts and items. These include a spare set of BBS wheels, race harness, a set of handheld blowers, jacks, and more, which are available to ship separately at the buyer’s expense from the US."

The F310 B chassis 179, powered by a 3-litre V10 engine, made its first race weekend appearance at the 1997 Belgian Grand Prix when Schumacher took it out for qualifying before reverting to an older chassis. The F310 B chassis 179, which is the one offered for sale, was better-suited to low-grip conditions.

While the 179 didn't get its full race weekend outing at Spa-Francorchamps, Irvine drove the car during the Italian and Austrian Grands Prix.

Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F310B

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Schumacher finished the 1997 season in second with 78 points, behind Jacques Villeneuve. But Schumacher was later disqualified from the championship for unsportsmanlike behaviour towards the Canadian driver during the season finale. Irvine finished seventh in the 1997 standings with 24 points.

The Ferrari F310 B chassis 179 was previously sold by Ferrari in 1999 to a small group of collectors before being acquired by the Audrain Auto Museum in Newport, Rhode Island, in 2014.

The Ferrari F310 B chassis 179, which was the last Ferrari to be designed by John Barnard, who left the Maranello outfit before the 1997 season began, will go under the hammer on Wednesday 28 January with RM Sotheby's in Paris.