Mercedes W196, most expensive F1 car, is up for auction
What's the story
The legendary Mercedes W196, the Formula 1 car that led Juan Manuel Fangio to two World Championships, is set to go under the hammer.
The car is likely to sell for around £42 million (€50 million), according to Speedcafe.
If it sells for that price, the 00009/54 chassis would become the most expensive F1 car ever sold at an auction.
Here are further details.
Legacy
W196's impressive track record and legacy
The Mercedes W196 isn't just any race car, but a symbol of German autosport engineering.
Driven by Fangio and Sir Stirling Moss, it won nine out of the 12 Grands Prix it competed in. This incredible track record highlights its position as one of F1's earliest powerhouses.
The car helped re-establish Fangio at the top of F1 standings after years of Ferrari dominance.
Record breaker
Mercedes W196's potential to break F1 auction records
The Mercedes W196 is set to shatter F1 auction records in May. The record currently belongs to another model of the same car, also driven by Fangio. That car sold for £24.2 million at a Goodwood Festival of Speed auction in 2013.
However, newer models such as the team's 2024 challenger, the W15, aren't expected to fetch such high prices despite their recent Grand Prix wins.