Why McLaren Is Selling Five Modern Formula 1 Cars

Five Formula 1 race cars representing significant chapters in McLaren's modern racing history have hit the open market. Each car is being offered directly by the team that built and campaigned them. Oxfordshire-based specialist dealer Tom Hartley Jnr, renowned for handling sales of some of the world's most iconic F1 machinery, has been selected by McLaren Racing to find their new owners.

The selection features two 1991 MP4/6A chassis driven by Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger, alongside Lando Norris's 2023 MCL37A—touted as the most modern Formula 1 car ever offered for private ownership. All five cars are available individually, with prices undisclosed to the public.

Three Decades of McLaren Racing History

Spanning 32 years of the British outfit's heritage, the collection comprises chassis 04 and 07 of the 1991 MP4/6A, the 2012 MP4/27A, the 2021 MCL35M, and the 2023 MCL37A.

Each machine has remained under McLaren's direct stewardship since its final competitive outing and will undergo complete preparation by factory specialists before being handed over to its new custodian.

Chassis 04 finished second at the 1991 San Marino Grand Prix behind Ayrton Senna, in a dominant display where the McLaren duo lapped the entire field. Such a feat by teammates in identical machinery had occurred only once before in Formula 1 history. Powered by Honda's naturally aspirated RA121E V12, the chassis contributed to McLaren securing their fourth consecutive Constructors' Championship that season.

The other 1991 example, chassis 07, claimed second place at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and boasts a clean, crash-free history. Senna also tested both chassis the following season, permanently tying the cars to both the three-time world champion and Berger.

The 2012 MP4/27A (chassis 01) was piloted by Jenson Button during the closing stages of that year's title battle. The car set the fastest lap at the Indian Grand Prix and formed part of a campaign that yielded seven pole positions and three race victories. Lewis Hamilton also drove the chassis during testing sessions, though he did not race it.

Norris Machinery: A Bridge to the Present

Chassis 01 of the 2021 MCL35M was driven exclusively by Norris, scoring podiums at Imola, Monaco, and Monza. It played a pivotal role in McLaren's famous 1-2 finish at the Italian Grand Prix—the team's first grand prix victory since 2012. In Monaco, the chassis notably raced in the special retro Gulf livery.

The 2023 MCL37A (chassis 03) is the most contemporary machine of the group and serves as the centerpiece of the sale. Norris drove it to back-to-back second-place finishes at the Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix. The chassis later formed a crucial part of the development programme that laid the groundwork for McLaren's championship-winning campaigns in 2024 and 2025.

Following its competitive career, chassis 03 joined the team's testing fleet, driven by Oscar Piastri, Pato O'Ward, Mick Schumacher, Valtteri Bottas, and Martin Brundle. Hollywood star Brad Pitt also got behind the wheel at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin while preparing for his Formula 1 feature film, reaching speeds of 300 km/h.

According to McLaren representatives, the opportunity to purchase such modern machinery directly from a works team is unprecedented, as collectors typically wait decades before such machinery becomes available privately.

Why Are These Cars Being Sold?

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown emphasized that the team prefers to see these cars exercised on track rather than locked away in storage.

Hartley expects the sale could mirror previous landmark consignments, where a single buyer ultimately acquired all available machinery despite the cars being offered individually.

In 2025, Hartley's company reported collector car sales exceeding $900 million, headlined by Bernie Ecclestone's 69-car collection, which sold for around £500 million ($665 million). The specialist had previously brokered a record-breaking deal for a McLaren F1 GTR, underscoring the strong market value of the marque's racing heritage.