The greatest racer of a generation

RM Sotheby’s, Silverstone, UK 17 July

YOU MIGHT BE surprised to see such a modern F1 car on these pages. Not only is it rare for anything from the last 20 years to be offered for sale on the open market, especially a McLaren, but this is actually the first time a race-winning car driven by Lewis Hamilton has ever been offered at a public auction.

When Hamilton first sat in this 2010 MP425A, he was still a promising young British Champion, fighting incredibly hard to take his second trophy. Today he’s considered by many to be the greatest driver of a generation and, now that he has equalled Michael Schumacher’s seven World Championship trophies – and surpassed his race wins – it’s hard to disagree.

Hamilton’s 2010 MP4-25A represented a significant improvement over the disappointing 2009 car, thanks in part to the Mercedes-Benz FO 108X 2.4-litre V8 engine. Although the car ultimately wasn’t able to keep up with the dominant Red Bull or seriously quick Ferrari, the British driver still managed to take nine podiums and two outright victories in 2010.

This car is probably most notorious for introducing the slightly contentious ‘F-duct’, which channelled air to the rear wing via a small vent in the cabin. When the driver covered the hole with his left leg, it reduced aerodynamic drag, increasing top speed.

Although McLaren won’t say how many cars are in private hands, MP4-25A chassis no.1 represents an extremely rare opportunity. Not only will the car be auctioned straight after the qualifying shoot-out of the 2021 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, but the screaming V8 will be running at full speed around the British GP circuit as the auction takes place. This unique sales spectacle is expected to raise $5,000,000-7,000,000.