The ex-World Champion F1 car could be yours for about $10-15 million!
If you are a hardcore Lewis Hamilton fan with wads of cash, this soon-to-be-auctioned car might be the perfect memorabilia. It’s the 2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 driven by the seven-time world champion, and it’ll be up for sale at an RM Sotheby’s auction on November 17th in Las Vegas.
The racer is the W04 with chassis number 4 that competed in the 2013 F1 season, representing an important milestone for both the F1 driver and the constructor, having been a meaningful part of Lewis’ first win for the Mercedes F1 team in the Hungarian Grand Prix that season.
Best of all, it was not yet powered by the current V6 Hybrid powertrain; instead, it was the final run for the naturally aspirated 2.4-liter V8 with a little help from KERS – a device allowing it to regain kinetic energy under braking. As a result, the engine alone produces 750 hp while the KERS adds another 80 hp at a mind-blowing 18,000 rpm!
Considering that this specific Formula 1 car is the only Lewis Hamilton-driven car up for sale currently — others are jealously owned by Toto Wolff or Lewis Hamilton himself — Lewis’ W04 is estimated to sell at around $10 million to $15 million, which is eye-watering to say the least.
According to Sotheby’s, the big price tag is justified by the car’s achievement; it was essentially a key contributor to Mercedes-AMG getting second place at the 2013 Constructor Championship. Moreover, it represents the golden era of V8 Mercedes F1 cars before switching to the puny V6 Hybrid. In addition, Shelby Myers, the head salesman from the auctioneer, says it’s the car that rocketed Lewis Hamilton’s career in F1.
In short, no wonder why the vehicle cost eight figures; it’s more than just an F1 car; it’s a piece of Lewis Hamilton’s history and a part of motorsport heritage!
Gallery: 2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 W04
