Image: Mercedes-AMG
Image: Mercedes-AMG
Image: Mercedes-AMG
Image: Mercedes-AMG
NewsBy: Siyavuya Mbaduli
Lewis Hamilton’s 2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas W04 F1 car, a pivotal piece of racing history, shattered auction records during a recent event.
Image: Mercedes-AMG
This particular car marked Hamilton’s inaugural F1 victory for Mercedes and was sold for an astonishing $18,8 million (R343 million) at an RM Sotheby’s auction in Las Vegas on the 17th of November. This remarkable sale established a new pinnacle in the world of F1 car auctions, surpassing all prior records for cars of the modern era. Notably, this car holds significance as the final V8 engine model before the advent of the turbo hybrid era.
Hamilton steered this iconic W04 throughout 14 of the 19 races in the 2013 Formula 1 season. Its crowning moment came at the Hungarian Grand Prix that year, where Hamilton secured a triumphant win. Initially projected to fetch between $10 million and $15 million, its final sale price exceeded expectations significantly.
Image: Mercedes-AMG
What made this auction particularly noteworthy was its rarity. This W04 stands as the sole Mercedes F1 car from the modern era not owned by Mercedes, Toto Wolff, or Hamilton himself. This scarcity elevates its value, as it represents a unique opportunity unlikely to be replicated with any of Hamilton’s cars from his dominant hybrid-era reign from 2014 to 2020. Back in 2013, Hamilton’s alliance with Mercedes began, a journey that led him to become the most successful F1 driver in history, boasting an unprecedented 103 victories and counting.
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His achievements comfortably overshadow Michael Schumacher’s 91 wins and Sebastian Vettel’s 53. Furthermore, Hamilton’s pole position records stand at an unmatched 104, leaving Schumacher trailing by 36 poles. With 197 podium finishes, Hamilton outpaces every driver in Formula One history, securing podium positions in nearly 60%of the races.
Image: Mercedes-AMG
The W04 boasts a naturally aspirated 2,4-litre V8 engine, revving up to 18 000 r/min and generating 559 kW, with an additional 60 kW boost from the KERS (kinetic energy recovery system). Its power links to a seven-speed semi-automatic transmission developed in collaboration with Xtrac.
Distinguishing itself as the first car with front-to-rear inter-connected suspension (FRIC) and the final one sporting a high nose, the F1W04-04 holds its place in history. In the 2013 season, Hamilton guided this car to a fourth-place finish, securing five pole positions and five podium finishes, four of which were earned in this very car. Notably, it clinched third place at the Malaysian Grand Prix, the Chinese Grand Prix, and the Belgian Grand Prix.
Image: Mercedes-AMG
This car’s auction success marks a significant milestone in the world of motorsports memorabilia, encapsulating a pivotal era in Hamilton’s illustrious career and F1 history itself.
Keyword: Lewis Hamilton’s 2013 Mercedes F1 Car Smashes Auction Record