The most expensive McLaren car ever sold at public auction is a white 1994 McLaren F1 that achieved $25 million at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2025 sale. It is also the most expensive British car.
In a remarkable auction held in Abu Dhabi in December 2025, RM Sotheby’s increased the marque and model record for a 1994 McLaren F1 by almost $5 million to a new record $25 million. In the same auction, three McLaren racing cars for the 2026 season (F1, IndyCar, WDC) sold for record prices.
1994 McLaren F1 — Most-Expensive British Car Ever
A 1994 McLaren F1, chassis 014, sold for $25,317,500 at the RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi 2025 sale in the United Arab Emirates as the most expensive McLaren car ever sold in a public auction. The record price made the F1 the 14th most expensive car ever sold at public auction and only the 23rd car to achieve over $20 million. The presale estimate was “in excess of $21 million.”
The 1994 McLaren F1 became also the most expensive British car ever sold at public auction. It took the British-built car record from the 1956 Aston Martin DBR1, which sold for $22,550,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017 classic car auction.
The result increased the McLaren marque record, and the F1 model record, from the $20,465,000 paid for a 1995 McLaren F1 with only 390 km (242 miles) on the clock at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2021 classic car auction on the Monterey Peninsula in California, USA.
Record 1994 McLaren F1 — Most Expensive McLaren Ever
The record 1994 McLaren F1 was the 14th of only 64 road-specification F1 hypercars produced. Remarkably, the car is not particularly original, with low mileage, or from celebrity ownership. It had almost 14,000 miles on the clock.
The 1994 McLaren F1 was originally delivered new to the Brunei Royal Family, finished in Titanium Yellow over black. Following a rebuild by McLaren in 2007, it was finished in the current Ibis White.
During the rebuild, it was the last of eight F1s fitted by McLaren with the High-Downforce Kit, which included, amongst others, a fixed rear spoiler, a GTR-derived front bumper and splitter, plus LM-specification louvres for the front wings. The interior also received LM specification.
The original yellow car was autographed by Michael Schumacher in 1996, but this signature was lost in the respray. The current white car was autographed by Lewis Hamilton in 2007.
McLaren F1 Prices at Auction (2025)
McLaren F1s are amongst the most expensive cars ever sold at public auction. It is arguably the most drivable car in the $20-million-plus category, except for the 2025 Gordon Murray Special Vehicles S1 LM that was inspired by the F1.
The most expensive McLaren F1 prices achieved at auction are (up to December 2025):
| Year | Car | Price US $ | Auctioneer | Auction | Year |
| 1994 | McLaren F1 | 25,317,500 | RM Sotheby’s | Abu Dhabi | 2025 |
| 1995 | McLaren F1 | 20,465,000 | Gooding | Pebble Beach | 2021 |
| 1995 | McLaren F1 | 15,620,000 | Bonhams | Quail Lodge | 2017 |
| 1994 | McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’ | 19,805,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey | 2019 |
| 1998 | McLaren F1 “LM-Specification” | 13,750,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey | 2015 |
- Only five McLaren F1s have been sold at public auction for over $10 million.
- A 1997 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail sold for $5.3 million at Scottsdale 2014 but no similar McLaren GTR Longtail cars were offered at public auctions more recently.
- Many F1s traded privately at probably higher undisclosed amounts, while the 1995 Le Mans participating F1s are “guestimated” at around $40 to $50 million.
More on the Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold
- The Most Expensive Cars of All Time – $10 Million Plus for a full listing of cars selling for more than $10 million at public auctions.
- Cars Sold for Over $20 Million – The Most-Expensive Cars Ever
- Cars Sold for $15 to $20 Million – Mostly Italian (but not only Ferraris) and a Brit
- Cars Sold for $12 to $15 Million – including the French record holders
- Cars Sold for $10 to $12 Million – a mixed bunch of great marques
- Marque Records
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