McLaren sells an unraced 2026 F1 car at auction for $12 million.
The authentic MCL40A is scheduled for delivery in early 2028.
In an unprecedented action, McLaren is auctioning a Formula 1 car that has yet to be built or raced. RM Sotheby’s has presented the 2026 McLaren MCL40A, which will be piloted by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the upcoming season, with an estimated price of US $10-12 million. The auction is set to occur in Abu Dhabi on December 5.
Sotheby’s states that this sale offers "a world-first opportunity to acquire a future Formula 1 car prior to its unveiling," with the winning bidder to receive either Norris’ or Piastri’s chassis—delivered well after the 2026 season ends. The buyer will not take immediate possession of the car. Instead, McLaren will provide a non-functional 2025 show car for display until the authentic MCL40A is delivered in early 2028, a two-year delay intended to safeguard technical secrets under the yet-to-be-implemented 2026 F1 regulations.
Additionally, RM Sotheby’s will showcase a piece of F1 history during the same sale—the 1991 McLaren MP4-6, which was famously driven by Ayrton Senna to victory in that year's Brazilian GP, with an estimated value of $12-15 million.
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