McLaren’s 2026 F1 car has sold at auction for a whopping $11.48 million, despite having never raced. The winning bidder will not receive the MCL40A until early 2028, although they have the option to lease one of the team’s 2025 show cars for display purposes until then. Numerous perks will also be included for the winning bidder, including a tour of the McLaren Technology Centre, access to the McLaren F1 car launch, hospitality experiences at two F1 races, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Indianapolis 500. The MCL40A is the sixth most expensive F1 car sold at auction, behind Michael Schumacher’s race-winning 2003 Ferrari F2003, which sold for roughly $14.5 million in 2022, although it’s far behind the 1954 Mercedes W196R Streamliner that was sold for a record-breaking $57.7 million earlier this year.
The 2002 McLaren MP4-17A is heading to auction early next year. The chassis was used in 12 races, driven by Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard to five podium finishes and one race victory. The car is being sold by RM Sotheby’s at its Paris auction on January 28 and is expected to fetch between $1.15m and $1.65m. It’s not the only F1 car on offer, as the 1997 Ferrari F310B driven by Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine will also be available. It is expected to bring in between $6.5m and $9m.
Jenson Button, who recently retired from motor racing, will make his Goodwood Members’ Meeting debut at the event in April. He will again get behind the wheel of the championship-winning Brawn BGP 001, which he drove to win the team’s only championship title in 2009. He last drove the historic car in 2019 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his victory. Button, who retired from F1 at the end of 2017, has since participated in a variety of racing series, including Super GT, NASCAR, and the World Endurance Championship. He decided to end his racing career at the end of the 2025 WEC season to spend more time with his family.
Japan’s iconic Suzuka Circuit is undergoing renovations ahead of its March 2026 spot on the calendar. Various areas of the circuit are set to be resurfaced with new asphalt to improve safety. Although the layout of the circuit will remain unchanged, it’s expected that grip levels could be greatly reduced when Formula One arrives next year.
It can be challenging for even the most avid fans to keep up with the fast-paced world of Formula One. The Weekly F1 Recap is a series published each Monday that breaks down the action, both on and off the circuit, into bit-sized pieces. It's perfect for casual and experienced fans alike.
