McLaren sells 2026 F1 car in record auction

McLaren Racing teams with RM Sotheby’s for a high profile Abu Dhabi auction honoring the team’s Triple Crown wins.

McLaren auctions 2026 F1 car in record sale

McLaren Racing and RM Sotheby’s announced a high profile auction at the Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi on December 5. The sale offers a 2026 McLaren Formula 1 Team car to the winning bidder months before its public unveiling. The winner will own a chassis driven by a current McLaren driver during the 2026 season and will take delivery in 2028. A 2025 show car will be offered on lease until the new car arrives, and the buyer will be invited to visit the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. Buyers will also gain unprecedented VIP access to the team and event activities.

The auction blends racing history with luxury collecting. It uses McLaren’s Triple Crown pedigree to create a new revenue and fan engagement channel, while testing how fast the market can turn speed into memorabilia. The move sparks questions about the line between competition and commerce and whether a race car can function as both tool and trophy. The event also signals how teams are leveraging heritage to amplify brand loyalty and media reach beyond the track.

Highlights

History fuels hype, and this blend of sport and commerce will test how far racing heritage can travel as a living asset.