Ferrari offered to sell him Michael Schumacher's F1 car… except that instead of keeping it in his garage, he's displaying it right in the middle of Cartier and Rolex

Having a Ferrari An exceptional driving experience is already a lifelong dream. But to be offered a Formula 1 car directly by Ferrari—one associated with Michael Schumacher—is on an entirely different level. Yet that is exactly what happened to American collector David Lee. And rather than hiding this piece of history in his massive garage, he chose a location that is, to say the least, unexpected. The race car now welcomes visitors… at the entrance to one of his stores.

A Ferrari You Won't Find at Auction

David Lee is by no means a stranger to the Ferrari world. His collection is estimated to be worth nearly $200 million and features some of Maranello's most sought-after cars. But this Formula 1 car has a unique history.

Lee emphasizes one detail: he didn’t find it at an auction. Ferrari offered it to him directly. A gesture of appreciation that he describes as a sign of a relationship that has grown particularly close with the manufacturer. «They offered me this car directly,» he explains, referring to that moment when you almost end up feeling like «part of the family.» And, of course, this isn’t just any race car.

Michael Schumacher's 2002 F1 car

David Lee describes it as a Michael Schumacher Ferrari from 2002, a championship-winning season for the Scuderia. A true piece of history from the Formula 1, evocative enough to elicit a particular reaction from Jean Todt when he saw it there: according to David Lee, seeing it brought back many memories for him.

The car, incidentally, is not merely a life-size model. Lee explains that it can still be started, provided a team familiar with the procedure is on hand. He also mentions the possibility of integrating it into an F1 program that would allow it to run. One could naturally imagine such a machine displayed in the middle of a private collection, carefully protected between an F40 and an Enzo. David Lee chose a different solution.

At the entrance to a jewelry store, as if nothing had happened

Schumacher’s race car is on display right at the entrance to one of his jewelry stores. Visitors step into a store carrying numerous brands (Cartier, Rolex, etc.) and almost immediately come face to face with a Formula 1 Ferrari.

A surprising choice, but one that ultimately aligns with the way Lee views his collection. His cars and automotive memorabilia aren’t just investments meant to sit out of the public eye: they’re part of his world and even find their way into his businesses. At least, after representing the pinnacle of motorsports during the Michael Schumacher era, this F1 car didn’t end up locked away in the back of a private garage. More than twenty years later, it continues to turn heads, simply displayed at the entrance to a jewelry store.