The German would win again next time out in France and again in Silverstone. After infamously crashing a different F300 chassis into the back of David Coulthard at the rain-soaked Belgian GP, Schumacher would win again after reverting to the 187 for the Italian GP.
The German famously fought back at Monza after a poor start, eventually sweeping past Häkkinen to take an emphatic win in front of the Tifosi and maintain his perfect record in chassis 187.
Though Schumacher would ultimately lose out in the title fight to the Finn, the F300 would represent a key stepping stone on his way to an unprecedented five consecutive titles from ’00 to ’04.
“The car had a special meaning for him, so much emotion,” says Todt. “We knew we were starting to be protagonists, to be able to win races.
“Michael knew that the team were there. It was just a question of the making the necessary last steps.”
One of nine F300s produced by Ferrari, the car represents one the most visceral examples of the screaming V10 F1 era, a machine at one with its driver.
The Ferrari F300 will be sold at the Monterey auction on August 18-20 – the lot can be viewed here.