Most expensive F1 car ever to be sold at auction
F1 cars over the yaers have been among the most efficinet, reliable and speedy Motoracing vehicles.
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Mercedes W196R
Formula 1 is the premier Motorsport event in the world, and the open-wheel racing championship host some of the world’s most skilled drivers and Car manufacturers. The F1 cars are some of the most collectible items in the motorsports world, as each car has its own story to tell.
F1 has been evolving exponentially in recent years, as have the cars that go around the various Grand Prix circuits. Moreover, the sport as a whole has become extremely expensive. With the changing landscape, the demand for F1 collectibles is skyrocketing, and Motorsports fans are not shy of spending millions on the opportunity of owning history when the cars are put on sale in auction houses.
Discover: How much does a Formula One car weigh in 2023?
Here is a list of the most expensive F1 car ever to be sold at auction
10. 1991 Jordan 191sold at £1.25m
The last car on the list is the 1991 Jordan 191. Michael Schumacher made his F1 debut in this car at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix when he took the place of imprisoned Bertrand Gachot. Moreover, during the qualifying session of the event, Schumacher could land his car in P7 on the timing sheets. The car was sold in 2022 by Speedmaster Cars for 1.25 million euros.
9. 1982 Ferrari 126 C2 sold at £1.54m
The 1982 Ferrari 126 C2 is the second-last car on the list of the Top 10 most expensive cars that have ever been sold. While the car was driven by the lights of Patrick Tambay and Mario Andretti that year, it was not a good campaign for the team. The Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team finished a disappointing P5 in the Constructors Championship. One interesting fact about the car is that, before getting sold off permanently at an auction in 2019 at a price of 1.54 million euros, the car was owned by renowned Ferrari collectors Jacques Setton and Michael Willms.
8. 1992 Williams-Renault FW14B sold at £2.7m
Shifting gears, now it is the turn of a Williams-Renault F1 car that hit the track in the year 1992. The car was developed by Adrian Newey, who is considered one of the most highly skilled engineers in the F1 paddock. Moreover, the Newey-produced car was driven by Nigel Mansel, and it was in this car that he won his only F1 World Championship. The NoFW14/08 was sold at the 2019 Bonhams Festival of Speed at Goodwood and was purchased by a buyer who was described as a renowned private collector. The car was sold for 2.703 million euros.
7. 1993 McLaren MP4/8A sold at £3.6m
The 1993 McLaren MP4/8A is the only car on the Top 10 list that was driven by the all-time F1 legend, Ayrton Senna. The Brazilian won five races with the car that year but was not able to nick the title away from his arch-rival, Alain Prost. The Chassis MP4/8A holds a special place in the history books. It was with this Chassis that Senna won his sixth race in Monaco, a record that is yet to be broken. The car was sold at the ‘Les Grandes Marques à Monaco’ by Bonhams in 2018 at a price of 4,197,500 euros.
6. 2010 McLaren MP4-25A sold at £4.8m
Next up on the list is the 2010 McLaren MP4-25A. This is easily one of the most modern cars on the Top 10 list. Moreover, as the name suggests, the car was driven during the 2010 edition of F1. One interesting fact that people might not be aware of is that the chassis MP4-25 A was driven by both McLaren F1 drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, that year.
Before going on sale, the car was looked after by McLaren Racing Heritage and Mercedes AMG High-Performance Powertrains in order to present in ready-to-drive condition at the auction. Ultimately, Lewis Hamilton’s car was sold by Sotheby’s for 4.8 million euros in 2021.
5. Ferrari F2002 sold at £5m
The car that ranks fifth on the all-time list is also a Ferrari-produced car. This time it’s the turn of the Maranello-based team’s 2002 F1 car. The car was an absolute beast whenever it hit the track, and during the 2002 season, it proved so dominant that Michael Schumacher and Co. were able to win 15 races that year, with the first one coming at San Marino. Considering the pedigree of the machinery, it was sure to rake in decent cash, and when it was presented at an auction in Abu Dhabi in 2019, its sale price was 6,643,750 dollars.
4. 1998 Ferrari F300 sold at £5.3m
The above-mentioned Ferrari cars are all Championship-winning beasts. However, the 1998 Ferrari F300 was not quite able to land the F1 Championship. in 1998, Schumacher, despite all his efforts, was only able to manage a second-place finish in the Constructors Championship. The car was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in Monterey, California, at a price of 6,220,000 dollars.
3. Ferrari F2001 sold at £5.5m
Michael Schumacher Ferrari is always in high demand, this time, it is the 2001 F1 car. The car was a total masterpiece as it came to life because of the brilliant work of renowned people like Rory Byrne, Ignazio Lunetta, Aldo Costa, Marco Fainello, Nikolas Tombazis, James Allison, and Ross Brawn. Michael Schumacher managed 9 Grand Prix victories in the car and won his fourth World Championship. The car was sold in New York in 2017 and managed to amass a sum of 7,504,000 dollars.
3. Ferrari F2001 sold at £5.5m
Michael Schumacher Ferrari is always in high demand, this time, it is the 2001 F1 car. The car was a total masterpiece as it came to life because of the brilliant work of renowned people like Rory Byrne, Ignazio Lunetta, Aldo Costa, Marco Fainello, Nikolas Tombazis, James Allison, and Ross Brawn. Michael Schumacher managed 9 Grand Prix victories in the car and won his fourth World Championship. The car was sold in New York in 2017 and managed to amass a sum of 7,504,000 dollars.
2. Ferrari F2003 sold at £10.7m
While the W196R holds the record for being the second most expensive F1 car ever sold, Ferrari’s F2003 comes in at second place on the Top 10 list. Michael Schumacher drove the F2003, and this was the car in which the German won his sixth World Championship. As far as the price is concerned, Michael Schumacher’s car raked in around 10.7 million euros in the auction that was held in Switzerland.
1. 1954 Mercedes Benz W196R sold for 19.6 million euros
As per Dyler, the most expensive F1 car that has been sold to date is the 1954 Mercedes W196R. One of the most priced possession of the classic car market, the ride was sold for a record price of 19.6 million euros in the year 2013 in a public auction. This is a record that might stay for a long time to come, taking into account the money that was splashed in order to get the car.
The W196R was driven by former F1 World Champion, Juan Manuel Fangio, and it was in this car, the Argentine won his second F1 title in 1954, defeating the likes of Phil Hill and Masten Gregory. Fangio, in his career, amassed an impressive five World Championships. The number 6 chassis triumphed in Germany and then in Switzerland before Hans Herman drove it to P4 in Italy.
Moreover, the car holds a special place in the history books because it was the first car that the Mercedes Team arrived in Formula 1 with. It was the dawn of a new era in the sport. Since Fangio’s 1954 title triumph, the team had to wait for 60 years in order to win another World Championship.
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Rishabh Negi
(3244 Articles Published)