One of the first F1 cars tested by Lewis Hamilton when he first signed for McLaren is up for sale for £2.69million.
This 207mph McLaren-Mercedes MP4-21 Formula 1 was tested by the racing great at just 21 years old.
Seven times world champ, Hamilton, now 39, drove it when he signed in 2006.
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The car is an extremely rare vehicle as it is one of very few documented to be driven by the race ace outside of a factory collection.
After testing the motor went on to be driven in the first three races by Juan Pablo Montoya in the 2006 season.
The MP4-21 was designed by technical director Adrian Newey for his final season with the McLaren-Mercedes team.
It was also the first ever McLaren to be powered by a Mercedes-Benz FO108S 2.4-litre naturally aspirated V-8 engine.
Which would originally allow the car to produce a whopping 750 bhp at a hair-raising 19,000 revolutions per minute.
In 2019, thirteen years after its F1 debut the car was fully restored by McLaren Racing Heritage, as reported by Luxury Auto News.
RM Sotheby’s, who are hosting the listing in Las Vegas stated: “A rare offering by any measure, extremely few documented Lewis Hamilton Formula One cars exist for collectors outside of Factory collections.
“With the global popularity of Formula One growing substantially of late, race-used chassis with known provenance have become quite sought-after among collectors.
“This factory-restored example, with running gear and known history—and having been one of the very first Formula One cars ever driven by Lewis Hamilton—is no exception.
“With Hamilton winning his first World Championship only one year after his debut in 2007, his early testing experience in the Adrian Newey-designed MP4-21 certainly played a part in his F1 development.
“Chassis no. 21A-03 represents a wonderful opportunity to purchase a restored, usable McLaren-Mercedes team car from the final year of Adrian Newey’s technical directorship.
“And driven in period testing by Lewis Hamilton in his first and Juan Pablo Montoya in his final year of Formula One competition—with boundless potential, and unlimited thrills, in store for its next caretaker.”
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