Key Highlights
- McLaren is releasing five historic Formula 1 cars from its heritage collection for private purchase, including machines linked to Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, and Brad Pitt.
- Specialist dealer Tom Hartley Jnr will handle the sales individually, with the combined collection estimated to be valued between £25 million and $50 million.
- Among the offering is the 2023 MCL37A, marking the newest race-driven McLaren F1 car ever made available to a private buyer.
Historic McLaren Formula 1 Machinery Heads to the Private Market
McLaren is opening its heritage vault to release five significant Formula 1 cars for private sale. Curated directly from the team’s internal archives, the offering includes championship-winning era machinery piloted by legendary drivers as well as modern ground-effect cars that brought the Woking-based constructor back to the top step of the podium. Up until this offering, the vehicles have remained under the direct ownership of McLaren.
High-end classic and competition car specialist Tom Hartley Jnr has been selected to manage the transactions. The dealership previously oversaw the sale of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s vast grand prix car collection. While official figures have not been publicized, reports estimate the combined value of the five single-seaters to stand between £25 million and $50 million.
Championship Heritage and Modern Winners: The Five Chassis Detailed
The collection spans over three decades of Formula 1 design and engineering, highlighted by both V10 icons and cutting-edge hybrid racers:
- 1991 McLaren MP4/6A (Chassis 04 and Chassis 07): Originating from the campaign where Ayrton Senna secured his third and final World Drivers’ Championship. Both chassis were tested extensively by Senna and campaigned in competition by his teammate, Gerhard Berger.
- 2012 McLaren MP4/27A (Chassis 01): Representing Lewis Hamilton’s final campaign driving for McLaren. Across the 2012 season, Jenson Button scored three grand prix victories, while Hamilton secured four triumphs in the MP4/27.
- 2021 McLaren MCL35M (Chassis 01): The distinct car that Lando Norris piloted to a celebrated podium finish in Monaco sporting the fan-favorite, one-off Gulf livery. The chassis was also instrumental in McLaren’s 1-2 finish at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza later that year, where Daniel Ricciardo took the victory ahead of Norris, earning McLaren its first race win since 2012.
- 2023 McLaren MCL37A (Chassis 03): Raced during the 2023 campaign by both Norris and Oscar Piastri. Outside of official competition, actor Brad Pitt drove this exact machine around the Circuit of the Americas during filming sequences for the upcoming Formula 1 movie. According to Hartley, this chassis represents the newest race-driven McLaren F1 car ever presented to a private collector.
Heritage Strategy and Individual Sale Terms
McLaren leadership emphasized that releasing these historic assets is centered on ensuring the cars remain active rather than hidden away in long-term containment. “We have decided to part with these iconic McLaren Formula 1 cars because we feel that having them simply sitting in storage is a disservice to what they represent,”
explained McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. “These cars were built to be driven and raced, and we want to see them being used and enjoyed. We believe that is the best way to keep our history alive and our heritage business active.”
Unlike Bernie Ecclestone’s collection, which was transferred in its entirety to a single buyer, McLaren’s five entries are open to individual acquisitions. Dealer Tom Hartley Jnr clarified the approach, noting that flexibility remains paramount for prospective collectors. “There is of course every possibility that the same could happen here. However, these five cars will be offered individually and there is no time pressure whatsoever,”
Hartley stated. “Our priority, and McLaren’s, is to find the right homes for them.”
Before any of the single-seaters are handed over to their future custodians, each car will be prepared directly by McLaren to guarantee technical integrity and running condition.
Why This Matters
Formula 1 teams traditionally guard their modern-era race machinery closely, often retaining chassis for museum displays, factory marketing, or proprietary technical protection. Releasing modern-era hybrid machinery—particularly contemporary ground-effect cars like the 2023 MCL37A—directly into private ownership is exceptionally rare due to the complexity of the power units and control electronics. By handling preparation in-house before delivery, McLaren ensures these historical milestones can be run at private track days and historic events, expanding the footprint of its heritage business and meeting unprecedented demand in the ultra-luxury motorsport investment market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cars are being sold from the McLaren collection?
The offering consists of two 1991 MP4/6As (chassis 04 and 07) tested by Ayrton Senna and raced by Gerhard Berger; the 2012 MP4/27A (chassis 01) from Lewis Hamilton’s final season with the team; the 2021 MCL35M (chassis 01) famous for its Monaco Gulf livery podium and Monza 1-2 involvement; and the 2023 MCL37A (chassis 03) driven by Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Brad Pitt.
Must the five Formula 1 cars be purchased as a single collection?
No. While dealer Tom Hartley Jnr noted it is possible a single buyer might acquire all five, the cars are being offered individually to ensure each finds the appropriate home without any immediate time pressure.
Will the cars be ready to run when purchased?
Yes. McLaren will carry out comprehensive preparation on each vehicle prior to handing them over to their new private owners, supporting Zak Brown’s vision for the cars to be actively driven rather than kept static in storage.
