Germany’s Schumacher Museum swapped trophy with Rubinho, iconic cars and rare items

But if Schumacher has not been seen in public for 12 years due to his fragile health, his sporting legacy shines brightly in Cologne. The German town, located ten kilometers from Hurth, the municipality where the driver was born, has one of the largest and most comprehensive exhibitions with cars and objects from the life of the seven-time champion.

The “Michael Schumacher Private Collection” is free to enter and is located at Motorworld, a motorsport center located just over half an hour’s drive from the region’s only airport and 15 minutes from Köln Hauptbahnhof (central station). The exhibition brings together 13 cars driven by Schumacher in F1 and three from other categories, as well as items used by the German in different seasons, such as racing suits, racing gloves, sneakers, credentials, caps and helmets.

Right at the entrance to the exhibition are seven Ferrari models driven by the seven-time champion, such as the F2002, which won 15 of 17 races in 2002; the F310, from the German’s first year in the Italian team, in 1996; and the F2000, the model with which Schumi won his third championship, ending a 21-year title drought for Cavallino Rampante drivers.

Second place in Austria

The Cologne exhibition includes an extensive gallery with dozens of trophies won by the German during his 19 Formula 1 seasons. What attracts the most attention, especially among Brazilian fans, is the second-place trophy from the 2002 Austrian GP. This race was marked by the change of position of the Ferrari drivers after the last corner of the last lap. On the Austrian track, Barrichello was leading the race and was ordered by radio to hand victory to Schumacher. The attitudes of the German and Ferrari provoked one of the biggest boos ever heard in the history of motorsport.

Despite the points and the credit for the victory, the German left the first place on the podium to Barrichello and handed the first place trophy to the Brazilian. The fact that the Vice Cup is present in the exhibition in honor of Schumacher proves that there was no exchange of awards behind the scenes, as was suspected at the time.

The collection also features the defunct Jordan Team’s Model 191, which was the car the legend made his Formula 1 debut with, at the 1991 Belgian GP.

The Benetton B194 model, Schumacher’s first F1 title car, is in full view and suspended at a height of more than two meters. Intentionally or not, it is possible to observe the wooden plank on the floor of the car. The part sparked controversy at that year’s Spa GP as FIA inspectors identified excessive wear on the wood, disqualifying the German and voiding his victory.