Jacques Villeneuve’s Williams sold at auction along with the Lotus E21

On the sidelines of the Rétromobile 2025 show, the auction house RM Sotheby’s organized the sale of the 1998 Williams FW20 driven by Jacques Villeneuve. Among the hundred lots offered to collectors, there were several Formula 1 cars, including this 1998 Williams FW20 driven by the man who, just a few months earlier, became the 1997 Formula 1 World Champion: Jacques Villeneuve.

Estimated between €200,000 and €300,000, it was sold for €218,500 (excluding auction fees). This racing car, which marked the golden era of F1, was presented at the prestigious event Carrousel du Louvre, in the Parisian Golden Triangle, for the third consecutive year.

The Canadian finished 5th in Australia and 4th in San Marino with this car. Powered by a Renault/Mecachrome 3-liter V10 engine producing over 750 horsepower, the FW20 finished 3rd in the Constructors’ Championship in 1998. Jacques Villeneuve was then teammates with Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

Crowned Formula 1 world champion in 1997 after a thrilling finale in Jerez, Jacques Villeneuve experienced a much more difficult 1998 season. Driving a less competitive Williams, he was unable to compete with the dominant McLaren and Ferrari cars in the races. Despite these challenges, the Quebec native salvaged some honor with two podium finishes (two 3rd places) in Germany and Hungary.

Subsequently, it will be designated as a reserve and test car for the remainder of the 1998 season, driven this time by Juan Pablo Montoya and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

The purchaser will be able to participate in races as it remains eligible for historic racing events.

The Lotus E21 of Grosjean and Räikkönen also sold

At this Parisian auction, there was also the 2013 Lotus E21, driven five times by Kimi Räikkönen and seven times by Romain Grosjean. That season, Lotus finished 4th in the constructors’ championship. It was sold with its original steering wheel for €352,625 excluding sales fees.

Note that other Formula 1 cars were sold this week but outside the Paris auction. One of them is a 1955 Cooper-Bristol T40 driven by Jack Brabham. This single-seater was the first with a rear engine. It was estimated at over €350,000 with the FIA historic technical passport expiring next June. Additionally, it is eligible for most historic racing events.

The same week in the Netherlands, there were also luxury vehicles such as Michael Schumacher’s 1997 Ferrari F310B, estimated at over $800,000 (€763,200).

Meanwhile, across the Channel, the 1989 Leyton House March CG891, driven by Maurício Gugelmin and Ivan Capelli during the Formula 1 World Championship, represents Adrian Newey’s second work in Formula 1. The final sale price has not been publicly disclosed.