An auction item with symbolic significance: Why Michael Schumacher’s first Formula 1 winning car is now worth millions
Michael Schumacher’s first Formula 1 winning car is going under the hammer: the Benetton B192, in which “Schumi” celebrated his first Formula 1 victory at the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps, is being auctioned at Broad Arrow Auctions with an estimated value of around 8.5 million euros.
Benetton initially started the 1992 season with an upgraded version of the B191, but introduced the B192 at the fourth race of the season in Spain. Schumacher, then teammate of Martin Brundle, achieved his first Grand Prix victory with this car—at the wheel of the B192 with chassis number 5, which is now being auctioned.
Designed by Rory Byrne under the direction of Ross Brawn, the B192 scored a total of eleven podium finishes, one victory, and two fastest race laps with Schumacher and Brundle over the course of the season. With its striking yellow and green livery, the B192 was powered by a 3.5-liter V8 engine from Ford, which developed between 660 and 680 hp.
Brundle: Benetton actually didn’t stand a chance against Williams
In a 2022 article for Sky, Brundle looked back on the 1992 season and the Benetton B192: “Thirty years ago, the Formula 1 season looked very different from today. There were only 16 Grands Prix, but these were contested by 16 teams, and a total of 39 drivers tried to qualify for a race.”
“The Williams FW14B was the car to beat—a technical masterpiece that only a lion could tame,” explained Brundle. “Nigel Mansell won nine races with it and was already world champion by mid-August. Imagine that today.”
“Michael Schumacher and I did our best to challenge Williams in the comparatively simple but extremely effective Benetton B192.”
Michael Schumacher’s first moment of glory
The article was followed by a video clip of Schumacher himself: “I had an incredible car today, and I have to say thank you to the team,” said the seven-time world champion after his victory in Belgium.
For Schumacher, this success was the spark that ignited further victories: in 1994, he became Formula 1 world champion for the first time with Benetton and, after successfully defending his title, moved to Ferrari for the 1996 season.
There, he won five more world titles between 2000 and 2004, making him the record Formula 1 champion with a total of seven titles.
Brundle’s time at Benetton came to an abrupt end.
Brundle was not blessed with such a successful Formula 1 career. The current TV expert explained: “I was fired in typical Formula 1 style. The team wanted an Italian driver for 1993, and that was the end of my time at Benetton.”
However, Brundle would not have missed the experience of driving alongside Schumacher for the world. It was a “privilege,” said Brundle. “Schumacher was an up-and-coming talent at the time and a truly great driver.”
That’s why the auction house is “extremely honored” to be able to offer the car from Schumacher’s first Formula 1 moment of glory. Yves Boitel, spokesperson for Broad Arrow Auctions, said: “This is undoubtedly one of the most famous cars in Formula 1 history – a vehicle that marked the beginning of one of the greatest careers the sport has ever seen.”
