P1racenews AI automatic summary:
An Ayrton Senna-driven F1 car is up for auction, and it could turn out to be one of the most expensive F1 cars ever sold.
An Ayrton Senna-driven F1 car is up for auction and could become one of the most expensive F1 cars ever sold, given Senna’s legacy as a three-time world champion and one of the greatest drivers in history. Senna tragically passed away at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, leading to significant safety improvements in F1.
RM Sotheby’s is offering for sale Senna’s 1986 Lotus 98T, expected to fetch between $9.5-12 million, marking a throwback to his early F1 career with Lotus. This car, raced by Senna in eight Grand Prix races that season, holds significance as the last F1 car featuring the iconic black and gold John Player Special livery, symbolizing an era in the sport.
If the Lotus 98T reaches the higher end of the estimated price range, it could enter the top five of the most expensive F1 cars ever sold, surpassing the 2003 Ferrari of Michael Schumacher. Currently, the top spots are held by Mercedes cars, notably Juan Manuel Fangio’s 1954 Mercedes W196R Stromlinienwagen, which sold for a record-breaking £42.7 million in 2025.
