Lewis Hamilton’s first Mercedes F1 car sells for a staggering $18.8 Million in Las Vegas

Lewis Hamilton's W04 has set the record for the most expensive F1 car with this sale.

Lewis Hamilton’s first Mercedes F1 car sells for a staggering $18.8 Million in Las Vegas

Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes W04 (Via IMAGO)

Lewis Hamilton is an icon. The British driver is statistically the most successful driver in F1 history. The seven-time world champion achieved the majority of his success with Mercedes after joining the team in 2013. Now, Hamilton’s first-ever Mercedes F1 car has been sold at an auction in Las Vegas for $18.8 Million.

Lewis Hamilton drove the Mercedes W04 during his first season at Brackley in 2013 alongside teammate Nico Rosberg. The British driver took his first win for the Silver Arrows behind the wheel of this car at the Hungarian GP. This particular car was sold at an RM Sotheby’s auction in Las Vegas which took place in the Awakening Theater at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel. This auction coincided with the inaugural Las Vegas GP weekend.

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The sale was done at the hammer price of $17.1 million with a ten percent premium added to the amount. The $18.8 million figure is the biggest public sale for any F1 car in history. RM Sotheby’s had valued the car at around $10 million to $15 million. Certainly, Lewis Hamilton’s legacy is rated highly by collectors.

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Previously, it was Michael Schumacher‘s F2003-GA that held the record for the most valuable F1 car. The Ferrari was sold for $15 Million at another RM Sotheby’s sale in 2022.

Lewis Hamilton’s W04 was the only modern Mercedes F1 to have an unknown owner

This particular W04 remains the only Mercedes to not be owned by the German carmaker, Toto Wolff or Lewis Hamilton. However, no information is available regarding the seller at the auction. Certainly, the car carries a great legacy as it was the first Silver Arrow that was driven by the seven-time world champion.

Lewis Hamilton winning the 2013 Hungarian GP
Lewis Hamilton winning the 2013 Hungarian GP (Via IMAGO)

Moreover, Shelby Myers, RM Sotheby’s head of global private sales, compared the relationship between Hamilton and the W04 to some of the biggest sports in the world. Myers even brought up the iconic pairing of Lionel Messi and Argentina in relation to the Briton’s stay at Mercedes.

It [Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes] can only be compared to Jordan and the Bulls, Brady and the Patriots, or Messi and Argentina.
Shelby Myers said as reported by Deccan Herald

Certainly, F1 cars have increased in value in recent years. The sport has sky-rocketed in popularity over the past few years. Subsequently, collectors are willing to shell out massive sums to acquire some iconic F1 machinery. However, it remains to be seen if another F1 chassis can beat the new record set by Hamilton’s W04.

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