McLaren took an unprecedented step in the world of motorsport this week by auctioning three racing machines that have yet to turn a wheel in competition. The sale, held December 5 near the Yas Marina Circuit and organized with RM Sotheby’s, marked the first time an active Formula 1 team has offered future-season cars to collectors before their official debut.
The auction aligned with McLaren’s long-term ambition to pursue motorsport’s Triple Crown in a single season beginning in 2027, a target that includes the Indianapolis 500, the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To commemorate this effort, the team placed three key entries under the hammer: its 2026 Formula 1 car, the McLaren MCL40A; the Indy car slated for Pato O’Ward’s 2025 Indianapolis 500 run; and the Hypercar destined for the FIA World Endurance Championship beginning in 2027.
The MCL40A drew the highest figure of the group, selling for $11,480,000. The winning bidder will not take delivery until 2028, once the model concludes its competitive use. McLaren applied the same delayed handover terms to the Indy car and the future Hypercar. The Hypercar, which is scheduled to compete at Le Mans in 2027, achieved $7,598,750 at the sale. O’Ward’s Indy 500 entry followed at $848,750.
The headline figure of the event, however, came from a road car. A 1994 McLaren F1, originally delivered to the Brunei royal family and refurbished by the manufacturer in 2007, exceeded its estimate by more than €3 million and sold for over $25 million. The example, one of only 64 road-going F1s, became the most expensive vehicle of the auction.
McLaren’s bold auction approach underscored both its confidence in its upcoming racing programs and the enduring demand for its historic and future models. With the auction complete, attention now turns back to competition, where drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri aim to cap the weekend with a world championship result for the team.
Shawn Henry