Lewis Hamilton’s first Mercedes F1 race car headed to auction

Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes-Benz AMG Formula 1 race car, which he used to secure his first win for the team at the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix, is going up for auction with an estimated selling price between $10 million and $15 million.

Lewis Hamilton’s historic Formula 1 race car, the one that marked his first victory for Mercedes-Benz AMG, will soon be available for auction through RM Sotheby’s. The car played a pivotal role in Hamilton’s journey to securing multiple world championship titles, including his record-breaking run of seven titles, starting with this momentous win at the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix.

The race car, bearing chassis number F1W04-04, was piloted by Lewis Hamilton in 14 of the 19 races during the 2013 F1 season. It was in Hungary that Hamilton emerged victorious, achieving both pole position and the race win. Although he won that race, it was Sebastian Vettel, driving for Red Bull Racing, who clinched the season title.

Historically significant Mercedes Formula 1 cars are rarely offered for sale, as many of them are owned by Mercedes, the CEO of the Mercedes F1 team, Toto Wolff, or the drivers themselves. This auction presents a unique opportunity for collectors and fans to acquire a piece of F1 history. What sets this offering apart is that the car still retains its original power unit and transmission, a rarity in F1 car auctions.

The 2013 season was the last year for the naturally aspirated V-8 engines in Formula 1 before the sport transitioned to the current V-6 format the following season, making this car even more valuable as a collector’s item.

The car is scheduled to be auctioned on November 17 during RM Sotheby’s sale coinciding with the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The auction event will take place at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel, just a day before Lewis Hamilton races down the iconic Las Vegas Strip in his current Mercedes F1 car.

While this is not the first time an F1 car driven by Lewis Hamilton has gone under the hammer, it holds a special place in history as the car where his journey with Mercedes began. In 2021, a McLaren F1 car from the 2010 season, driven by Hamilton and his teammate Jenson Button, was sold at auction for $6.45 million.