RM Sotheby’s are selling what many consider to be the most significant Formula 1 car ever to go to auction. It is the McLaren MP4/6 that Ayrton Senna won the 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix with, his first ever home circuit victory.
The car, chassis MP4/6/1, is currently for sale from today through until Thursday 11th December 2025, on RM Sotheby’s Sealed online platform. It will be out of reach for most Formula 1 fans, though, as it is estimated to sell for around $12 – 15 million (£9.6 – £12 million).
Built as the prototype for McLaren’s 1991 season and powered by Honda’s V‑12 engine, MP4/6/1 is one of the extremely rare cars that has a 100% Formula 1 win record. That’s because it had just one Grand Prix start and one win. As well as being driven by Senna, it was also driven by Gerhard Berger and other McLaren works drivers throughout 1991. The car remained in McLaren’s custody for nearly three decades before going into private ownership in 2020. This was the first time it had left the factory’s heritage fleet.
Obviously, being Ayrton Senna’s car with a 100% win record makes the car very special; it is made even more special, though, with the fact that it was the last manually‑shifted, V‑12 Honda‑powered car to win a world championship.
During Senna’s now legendary race in São Paulo, he was able to win despite the car being stuck in sixth gear during the last few laps. He described it as “the hardest‑fought race of my life.”
During that season, MP4/6/1 was used as a factory development and test car, helping perfect the McLaren/Honda package that gave Senna his third and final World Championship.
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