The McLaren F1 car, driven to victory by Lewis Hamilton in the 2010 Turkey Grand Prix, was sold for a staggering 4,836 at a single car auction hosted by RM Sotheby’s during the UK F1 weekend of 2021 at the Silverstone circuit .000 pounds ($ 6,661,000) sold.
The auction of the McLaren MP4-25A, Chassis No. 01, marked the first time an F1 racing car driven by Hamilton was put up for public sale, and Bidding Saturday followed the first Formula 1 Sprint Qualifying.
The result was the second highest for a Formula 1 car, the record from Michael Schumacher’s 2001 F2001, which Sotheby’s sold for £ 5,449,607 ($ 7,506,556) in 2017.
The McLaren drove full demonstration laps at Silverstone before a crowd of an estimated 140,000 spectators was expected. McLaren test driver Rob Garofall drove the historic racer to the din of the spectators and the Mercedes-Benz 2.4-liter V8 engine.
“The McLaren MP4-25A, Chassis # 01, was a key chassis in Vodaphone McLaren Mercedes’ 2010 season, a year in which the historic British team ultimately made its 2nd release.
“In addition to Hamilton to victory in Turkey, Chassis No. 01 also set Lewis Hamilton the fastest lap and a second place in the 2010 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix. The chassis also put Jenson Button in third place on the podium at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
“This remarkable car attracted a great deal of interest from collectors around the world looking to acquire an important piece of motorsport and F1 history driven to victory by the most successful driver in the sport. The car was fully prepared for the race by the McLaren Racing Heritage Team and drove its demonstration laps with the full support of McLaren and Mercedes technicians. “
Oliver Barker, Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, said in the press release: “It was an incredible experience to hold this auction of this incredible car in such remarkable and unique circumstances. We are deeply grateful to the entire Formula 1 team for making it possible for us to sell the car at the British Grand Prix and in the privileged setting of the F1 podium that hosted so many legends of the sport.
“We knew this was a unique opportunity for a collector to acquire an extremely important racing car, and I believe the result is proof of that.”
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