LEWIS HAMILTON’s historic car which he won his first F1 race at Mercedes with has gone up for sale.
Hamilton, 38, won the first of his six titles with the Brackley-based constructor in 2014, with his grand total now standing at seven.
But the year before in 2013, Hamilton won his first-ever race with Mercedes in the W04 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Now the car is going up for sale under auctioneers RM Sotheby’s at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.
It is the first Hamilton-driven Mercedes F1 car to be offered for public sale.
However, to buy the car fans will need to reach very deep into their pockets.
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The pre-estimate price of the car is set between £8.2million and £12.3m.
Shelby Myers, Global Head of Private Sales, RM Sotheby’s said: “The Mercedes W196, which sold for $29.6m (£24.3m), remains the most valuable Formula One car ever sold.
“However, it’s the Mercedes-Benz Uhlenhaut Coupe that fetched $142m (£117m), cementing the Silver Arrows’ place in history books as one of the world’s most valuable and recognisable brands.
“Now, adding to the legacy of the Silver Arrows, we introduce the W04 – a car whose significance cannot be overstated.”
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The statement added: “Driven by Formula 1’s most successful driver and sporting icon, Lewis Hamilton, this car delivered his very first win in a Mercedes F1 car, signalling the beginning of the marque’s most dominant period: the Hamilton-Mercedes dynasty.
“This pairing can only be compared to Jordan and the Bulls, Brady and the Patriots, or Messi and Argentina.
“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 collectables in the foreseeable future.”
Hamilton has won 82 races with Mercedes and won 21 with former employer McLaren to take his total to a record 103 wins.
He is back in action at the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend as he remains in the hunt for a first race victory since 2021.
That did not stop the Brit from signing a new bumper £100m-a-year contract at the team for the next two years.
Championship leader Max Verstappen could win the drivers title this weekend after Red Bull won the constructors at the Japanese GP.
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
