It was sold for more than $6 million.
This weekend, the Formula 1 vehicle Lewis Hamilton drove to victory at 2010 Turkish Grand Prix was sold for a record-breaking amount. The McLaren MP4-25A was sold by RM during Hamilton’s 2021 British Grand Prix. This sale took place in front of around 140,000 race fans. It cost PS4,836,000 (or $6.6 million, at current exchange rates). The selling price of the car was within RM’s expectations at $5-$7million.
Hamilton’s McLaren is second in F1 cars sold at auction. It trails Michael Schumacher 2001 Ferrari F2001 which sold for PS5,449 607.43 ($7.5m) at another RM event. Hamilton is the first F1 driver to take this car to auction. Its high price may indicate that Hamilton’s cars are in demand and could eventually surpass Schumacher’s record.
Shelby Myers, RM Sotheby’s car specialist and global head for private sales, stated that Sir Lewis Hamilton’s accomplishments in the sport are so incredible that they may never be matched.
The auction was open to all race fans. They also had the opportunity to see the McLaren do demonstration laps around Silverstone Circuit. McLaren Racing Heritage team prepared the car with McLaren, Mercedes technicians on hand to provide full support. Rob Garofall, McLaren’s test driver, piloted the racer and let the crowd hear the 2.4-liter Mercedes Benz FO 108XV8 engine. This must have been quite a treat to listen to alongside the V6s used today.
This car’s history extends beyond Hamilton’s 2010 Turkish Grand Prix history. It was instrumental in Hamilton’s second place finish in the Chinese Grand Prix 2010 and second place in Constructor Standings. Jensen Button finished third in the final race of the 2010 season thanks to Jensen Button’s racer.