McLaren has announced a groundbreaking event that is set to shake up the world of motorsport: the Woking-based Formula 1 team will auction off its future 2026 Formula 1 chassis, an Arrow McLaren IndyCar for 2026, and a brand-new Hypercar that will debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2027. The auction will take place during the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend on December 5, in partnership with the renowned auction house RM Sotheby’s.
This move is unprecedented. It marks the very first time that a Formula 1 car has been put up for auction before it has even been officially unveiled to the public, let alone turned a wheel on track.
McLaren auction details
The Formula 1 car in question, expected to be named the McLaren MCL40, will be the first chassis designed and built under the upcoming 2026 FIA regulations. These rules will bring major changes to the sport, including active aerodynamics, revised hybrid power units, and new limitations on energy deployment.
The winning bidder will not immediately take possession of the car. Delivery will only happen in 2028, once the car has completed its competitive lifecycle. In the meantime, however, the buyer will be provided with a 2025 display model to showcase. Adding even more exclusivity, the collector will be able to choose whether their car will be built in the specification raced by Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri.
The package also includes behind-the-scenes access: the auction winner will enjoy VIP passes to the Formula 1 paddock, exclusive involvement in the development process of the car, and a private visit to the state-of-the-art McLaren Technology Centre in Woking.
But the Formula 1 car is not the only prize on offer. McLaren will also auction an Arrow McLaren IndyCar that will compete in the 110th edition of the Indianapolis 500 in May 2026, with Mexican driver Pato O’Ward behind the wheel. Like the F1 car, delivery of the IndyCar will only take place once the racing season concludes.
In addition, McLaren will offer its new LMDh prototype, which will debut in the World Endurance Championship in 2027 and take part in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Again, the car will be handed over only once the competitive season is complete.
Celebrating McLaren’s triple crown legacy
The auction highlights the prestige of McLaren, which remains the only team in motorsport history to have claimed the sport’s elusive Triple Crown. This consists of winning the Monaco Grand Prix (which McLaren has won 16 times, most recently in 2025), the Indianapolis 500 (three times, beginning in 1972), and the 24 Hours of Le Mans (which McLaren won on debut in 1995).
The announcement was made by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown during the Monterey Car Week, where he underlined the significance of the Triple Crown to McLaren’s heritage and how the team plans to build on this legacy with its return to the World Endurance Championship in 2027.
Marketing strategy and collector appeal
The move is seen as a bold combination of marketing innovation and fundraising strategy. By auctioning racing cars that have not yet competed, McLaren is creating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors. Buyers will not simply own a racing machine but will effectively become part of its story before its first race, with all the unpredictability and excitement that entails.
For example, no one yet knows whether the 2026 Formula 1 car will win a championship, or whether it will take its victories with Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri. Similarly, the performance of the Arrow McLaren IndyCar at the Indy 500 and the Hypercar’s challenge at Le Mans remain complete unknowns. This uncertainty is part of the appeal, making the purchase akin to acquiring a piece of art before the artist has even finished it.
This auction could set a precedent for the industry, though it is unlikely that a traditionalist team like Ferrari will follow suit in the near future.
The event will also include several rare McLaren road cars, such as a McLaren Speedtail enhanced with $250,000 worth of customizations, further linking the brand’s track success to its exclusive supercar image.
This historic auction blurs the lines between motorsport, luxury collectibles and art. It reinforces McLaren’s brand as a pioneer in both competition and culture, and it will give the winning bidders the chance to own not just machines, but pieces of future racing history.
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