Exclusive: The Incredible Story of a Stolen F1 Driver’s Ferrari F512M Resurfacing in London After 28 Years
A Ferrari F512M that was stolen a whopping 28 years ago was recovered by UK police, with a little help from the Italian automaker. The only thing more impressive than the find are the circumstances under which the vehicle was initially taken.
The Grand Prix Heist
The story starts in 1995 at the San Marino Grand Prix. At the race, Ferrari Formula One driver Gerhard Berger was one of two people on the grid to have their company cars stolen. In its investigation, the Met found that this car, Berger’s F512M, was taken straight to Japan.
The International Hunt
The car stayed there until 2023, when it was sent to the UK and an American buyer became interested in it. Police were tipped off to the car’s shoddy history by Ferrari itself, whose own checks suggested the car was stolen.
The Investigation and Recovery
The London Metropolitan Police’s Organized Vehicle Crime Unit carried out a global investigation and determined that it was the one that had once belonged to Berger. Just four days after inquiry began, police decided to track the car down and confiscate it to prevent it leaving the country.
Our enquiries were painstaking and included contacting authorities from around the world,” said Police Constable Mike Pillbeam, who led the investigation. “We worked quickly with partners including the National Crime Agency, as well as Ferrari and international car dealerships, and this collaboration was instrumental in understanding the vehicle’s background and stopping it from leaving the country.
Ongoing Investigations
The Met estimates that the car is worth £350,000 (around US$444,300 at current exchange rates). Unfortunately, it hasn’t determined what became of the second car that was stolen at the 1995 Grand Prix. The police force adds that although it has confiscated the Ferrari, its investigation is ongoing, and it has yet to make any arrests in the case of the 28-year-old theft.
