At the current RM Sotheby’s Las Vegas public sale, Lewis Hamilton’s 2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas W04 F1 automotive has etched its title into the annals of motorsport historical past by fetching an astonishing $18.815 million. This exceptional sale not solely shattered expectations but additionally secured its place because the second most dear Formula 1 automotive ever to be auctioned, marking it as essentially the most useful modern-era F1 race automotive.
Driven by the legendary seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton, the W04 performed a pivotal function within the 2013 Formula 1 season. Hamilton piloted the automotive in 14 out of 19 races, reaching a big milestone by clinching victory on the Hungarian Grand Prix after ranging from pole place. This triumph was notably vital because it marked Hamilton’s first win for Mercedes since becoming a member of the workforce earlier that yr. Throughout the season, he secured 4 extra podium positions and finally completed in fourth place within the 2013 championship standings.
Surpassing RM Sotheby’s preliminary estimate of $10 to $15 million, the $18.8 million sale value underscores the immense worth positioned on this historic racing machine. Notably, this record-breaking sale distinguishes the W04 as the one modern-era Mercedes F1 automotive not owned by the workforce, Mercedes’ workforce principal Toto Wolff, or the famend driver Lewis Hamilton himself. Remarkably, the automotive stays each full and useful, retaining its unique 2.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine.
Prior to this groundbreaking sale, the second-highest value ever paid for an F1 automotive at public sale was $14.9 million for the Ferrari F2003-GA, the car through which Michael Schumacher secured his sixth F1 world championship. However, the present report holder for essentially the most useful F1 automotive ever offered is a classic 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R, as soon as pushed by Juan Manuel Fangio, which commanded a staggering $29.6 million at public sale a decade in the past. The sale of Hamilton’s 2013 W04 now cements its place amongst these iconic racing machines, providing fanatics and collectors alike a tangible piece of Formula 1 historical past at an unprecedented value.
Source: www.automotiveaddicts.com
