Hamilton’s 2013 Mercedes rakes in staggering $18.8m at auction

©RMSotheby's

As a sideshow to last weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, auction house RM Sotheby’s held a public sale at the Wynn hotel, with the most prestigious lot at the event being Lewis Hamilton’s 2013 race winning Mercedes W04.

The car – chassis #4 – was campaigned by Hamilton in his debut season with Mercedes and by teammate Nico Rosberg in 14 of the 19 races held in 2013.

At the wheel of the immaculate Silver Arrow, Hamilton claimed the very first of his 81 F1 wins with the Brackley squad, the Briton triumphing that summer in the Hungarian Grand Prix while also snatching three additional podiums with chassis #4.

In last Saturday’s highly anticipated sale in Las Vegas hosted by British TV personality James Corden, RM Sotheby’s brought the gavel down for a staggering $18.8mn.

The hefty amount forked out by an anonymous European collector is the second highest price ever paid at an auction for an F1 car.

But Mercedes also proudly holds the record for the most expensive Grand Prix car ever sold, with the great Juan Manuel Fangio’s 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 fetching a cool $29.6 million when it went under the hammer at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2013.

Read also: Mansell memorabilia auction brings in over £2 million

The sale of Hamilton’s W04 is a testament to the incredible rarity and value of these machines. The W04 is now one of the most prized possessions in the world of motorsport.

But owning a car driven by Hamilton is not just about possessing a piece of motorsport history; it's about owning a piece of Hamilton's legacy.

The W04 is a symbol of his dominance and his unwavering pursuit of excellence. For the right buyer, this car is worth every penny.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.