Buying in Motion: Hamilton’s GP-Winning McLaren

Innovation is the name of the game in the auction world right now. Auction houses have worked hard to pivot to a new way of selling in the midst of a global pandemic, and in many cases, those changes have paid off.

The world may be on a path to return to normal, but that innovation continues — and RM Sotheby’s has just offered up more proof.

The company has joined together with Formula 1 to offer the Lewis Hamilton Turkish GP-winning 2010 McLaren Mercedes MP4-25A Formula 1 race car — chassis #1. This car is the first Hamilton F1 car to come to auction — and the fact that it’s the Turkish GP winner makes it all the more enticing.

However, how it will be sold is just as interesting as the car itself.

This is a single-lot event to be held at the Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix 2021 on July 17 — but just this GP car will be on offer — and the car will be lapping the Silverstone circuit at speeds in excess of 150 mph while its ownership is up for grabs via RM Sotheby’s. 

That’s right — no auction block or static display here. The car will be driven in anger in its element during its sale, with all the associated sights, sounds and smells as part of the deal. The pre-sale estimate is $5m to $7m.

Hamilton has competed in 270 Grands Prix, and of them, he’s won 98 and finished on the podium of 71. He’s earned 100 pole positions and has led for over 5,170 laps, and has seven F1 World Champion wins to his name. All that makes him the most successful Formula 1 driver of all time, and that makes this car an unrepeatable opportunity for an F1 collector.

Bidding will take place over the phone, online and in-person as the car screams around Hamilton’s home track.

Learn more about the car, and the sale, here.