McLaren offers unprecedented pre-season auction of 2026 Formula 1 car. McLaren will auction its 2026 Formula 1 car before its track debut.

McLaren clearly has no intention of slowing down after its recent successes on the track. In an unprecedented move within the Formula 1 world, the British team has announced that it will auction off its 2026 Formula 1 car even before it takes to the track. According to a report from racer.com, the announcement came directly from McLaren Chief Executive Officer Zak Brown during the Monterey Car Week in California. The auction is scheduled to coincide with the final round of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi, set for December 5, 2025.

The winning bidder of the auction will, in 2028, take delivery of the actual car that will be driven by either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri in the 2026 championship season. In the meantime, the winner will have the opportunity to use a 2025 show car on a lease basis and will gain exclusive access to the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. They will also enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience with the team, including close-up involvement in events and team operations.

In addition to the future 2026 Formula 1 car, the auction will feature McLaren’s first LMDh hypercar, which will mark the team’s debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship, as well as Pato O’Ward’s IndyCar, used in the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2026.

“This auction represents an extraordinary opportunity to own a piece of motorsport history and to place a bid for a car that will have already competed on track before its official debut,” said Zak Brown. He also highlighted McLaren’s ambitious goal of achieving a second motorsport Triple Crown, following the team’s previous achievements: the 1974 Indianapolis 500, the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix, and the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. This second Triple Crown pursuit will be a key focus as McLaren prepares for its entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2027.

The auction reflects McLaren’s innovative approach to engaging fans and collectors while reinforcing the team’s multi-series ambitions, combining Formula 1, endurance racing, and IndyCar programs in a unique global motorsport strategy.