As part of the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, the official RM Sotheby’s auction will see a very special Mercedes Formula 1 car up for sale.
Used by Sir Lewis Hamilton to take victory in the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 W04 is the car he used to score his first win for the Mercedes-AMG F1 team.
It represents a key piece of the British driver’s racing history – not least because it is the first Hamilton-driven Mercedes F1 car available for public purchase.
The beginning of a motorsport dynasty
Sir Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join the Mercedes F1 team caused a shock in the motorsport world, as he left the McLaren team that had backed him from childhood. Prior to 2013, the reborn Mercedes team had struggled to be competitive, even with seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher at the wheel.
Mercedes made a huge number of changes for the 2013 season, including Toto Wolff taking control of on-track motorsport operations. The W04 race car would also take a step forward, proving to be more competitive as the year progressed.
Although Nico Rosberg would take the W04’s maiden victory in Monaco, bad luck would force Hamilton to wait until Hungary to taste success himself. Starting from pole position, Hamilton became the first British driver since Sir Stirling Moss to win a Grand Prix for Mercedes-Benz.
Hamilton would use this particular chassis in 14 races throughout the 2013 season, helping the Mercedes-AMG Petronas to second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
More than just another Formula 1 car
The following year would see Hamilton and Mercedes embark on a record-breaking run of F1 success, with the British driver becoming a seven-time champion. It means the Mercedes W04 of 2013 was an important part of establishing a dynasty.
Shelby Myers, global head of private sales, RM Sotheby’s said: “Given the unparalleled lineage and being the sole example outside of Mercedes’ origination publicly available, the pairing of Lewis and the W04 elevates it beyond just a Formula 1 car.
“This undeniable piece could emerge as one of the most coveted collectibles in the foreseeable future.”
As a result, RM Sotheby’s has given the Mercedes F1 W04 a pre-auction estimate of £8 million to £12 million. The auction, set to take place on 17 November 2023, will also see the sale of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL jersey, won by American Football legend, Tom Brady.
A Hamilton-driven McLaren-Mercedes F1 car, sold in 2021 by RM Sotheby’s, achieved a considerable £5 million at auction.
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