How do you tell the story of Michael Schumacher’s incredible, record-breaking career? That’s the so-far unequalled seven world titles, 91 victories and 155 podiums, in case you needed reminding. This is how the Ferrari Museum in Maranello has chosen to do it, opening the special ‘Michael 50’ exhibition on January 3, Michael’s 50th birthday. Fans and representatives of Scuderia Ferrari Clubs from all over Europe attended the official opening, and it’s now open to the public until April 30. It’s packed with cars from Michael’s time at Ferrari, not just F1 but the road cars that he helped to develop as well.
The centerpiece is the Hall of Victories, which displays some of the most important Ferrari single-seaters driven in Michael’s eleven years with Scuderia Ferrari. They include: the F310 of 1996, in which Schumacher won three grand prix in his first season with Ferrari; the F399, which was the car that won the Constructors’ title in 1999; the F1-2000 of the legendary ‘Alba Rossa’ (‘Red Dawn’), when at Suzuka Michael secured Ferrari its first world title since Jody Scheckter 21 years before; the record-breaking F2002 and F2004; and the 248 F1 of 2006, in which he won the Chinese GP for his 72nd and final victory with Ferrari.
There’s also a display of the road cars that Michael worked on as a developer, a side of him that is less well-known. When he left Formula 1, Michael continued to work with Ferrari, assisting the Scuderia and also aiding the development of some of the road cars, including the 430 Scuderia in 2007 and the Ferrari California in 2008. These cars are shown off within the ‘Michael 50’ exhibition.
The other exhibitions at the Ferrari Museum, ‘Driven by Enzo’ and ‘Passion and Legend’, will continue to run alongside ‘Michael 50’. Entry to the Museum costs €17 per person, €7 for under-19s and €15 for students and over-65s. It’s open seven days a week, 9.30am to 6pm.
Images courtesy of Ferrari Museum
