McLaren to offer 2026 F1 car ahead of its racing lifespan

Sports Other Sports

Posted by AI on 2025-08-14 16:12:02 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-14 12:43:14

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 10

---

The McLaren MP_26 chassis, set to compete in the 2026 season, will be up for auction before it ever turns a wheel in competition, with the winning bidder receiving the car two years after its build date.

In an unprecedented move, McLaren Racing is putting an upcoming Formula 1 car up for public auction, with the highest bidder receiving the MP_26 chassis before it ever competes in a race. While the team has sold its heritage cars in the past, this sale is unusual in that the car will be built to compete in the future, with the winning bidder having to wait until the end of the 2026 season for delivery.

The sale, organized in partnership with Sotheby's, will see the eventual successor to McLaren's M4CM powertrain and chassis architecture offered in a limited-edition single-seat configuration. The MP_26 auction car will be liveried in McLaren Racing's trademark papaya orange, and the sale will include a lease of a 2025 show car, an experience with the McLaren Advanced Technologies group, and a meet-and-greet with McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris.

The auction will be held on December 15 at the Sotheby's New York showroom, with all proceeds going towards McLaren Racing's upcoming charity, the McLaren F1 Foundation. This organization is being established to support and advance diversity and inclusion initiatives across motorsport and automotive industries.

Go!