Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes F1 W04 breaks the world record for the highest auction sale of a modern car
The 2013 Mercedes F1 W04, driven by Lewis Hamilton and victorious at the Hungarian Grand Prix, was sold for just over 17.1 million euros during a lively online auction last Friday in Las Vegas.
The 2013 Mercedes W04 of Lewis Hamilton, the year he left McLaren for Mercedes and with which he won the Hungarian Grand Prix that season, was sold at auction in a special Las Vegas sale last Friday.
This is the first car of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, victorious in the seven-time Formula 1 Drivers’ Champion, Lewis Hamilton. The modern successor to the iconic Silver Arrows of Mercedes, often considered the most valuable cars in the world, evoking the unforgettable triumphs of Caracciola, Moss, and Fangio. Driven by Hamilton in 14 out of the 19 races of the 2013 Formula 1 season; winner of the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix. It participated in the last Formula 1 World Championship with V-8 engines, marking the final year for a true Formula 1 soundtrack. A centerpiece in the history of the most successful Formula 1 driver of all time, with 103 wins and counting, as stated on the website.
The single-seater, adorned with the number 10, was sold for 18.815 million dollars, which is approximately 17.190 million euros. The bidding had started at five million dollars, which is over 4.500 million euros, before taking off. Other items, such as a Ferrari suit worn and signed by Michael Schumacher, as well as a helmet signed by the British driver Lando Norris, were also sold that evening.
A record sale for a modern car
There are regular auctions for exceptional cars. In fact, Bonhams is currently auctioning a McLaren F1 in Abu Dhabi in a few days. However, this sale remains exceptional due to the amount reached at the hammer drop. Sold for over 18 million dollars, it is simply the world record for a car sold at auction built after the 2000s. It is also the world record for a Formula 1 car sold at auction.
During the same sale, a 2002 Mercedes CLK GTR was granted $10 million. In comparison, the most expensive Formula 1 ever sold at auction is also a Mercedes but from 1954. It is the W196, sold in 2013 by Bonhams at the Goodwood Festival for over $29.6 million.
Relive the auction in video:
