Schumacher’s first podium Benetton F1 car to be auctioned

At Bonhams’ forthcoming Bond Street auction, a very special F1 car will be offered for sale: the Benetton-Ford that eventual seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher would steer to his first-ever podium finish in 1992…

Steed of the stars

In what was set to be the last Grand Prix of Mexico (the race will return to the calendar in 2015 after a 23-year hiatus), a young Michael Schumacher piloted his Benetton-Ford to an impressive third place, setting the tone of things to come. Of course, many podiums, wins and championships followed – but chassis B191-06 not only set the German’s career on course, but also took three-time F1 World Champion Nelson Piquet to the finish of his last-ever race at the Adelaide circuit the previous year. “For his Benetton debut, chassis 6 then went on to take present-day Formula One TV commentator and highly respected pundit Martin Brundle to eighth in the South African Grand Prix of 1992,” says James Knight, Bonhams’ international head of motoring. “This car really has enjoyed a fantastic career and now, more than two decades after its debut, it can make an exciting addition to any enthusiast's motoring collection.”