In the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, McLaren Formula 1 Team secured its 10th Constructors’ World Championship with six races still to go, making the Woking-based team the second-most decorated outfit in the history of F1.

Spearheaded by its enormously popular driver line-up and managed by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown alongside superlative McLaren F1 Team Principal Andrea Stella, the team has enjoyed enormous success in the past two seasons. At the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, McLaren F1 Team secured its latest world championship with 12 victories between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, all achieved with six races remaining in the season.

On the horizon, all teams must adapt to a major regulatory shake-up coming in 2026. For next year, the cars will be 20 centimetres shorter, 10 centimetres narrower, and up to approximately 30 kilograms lighter. More significantly, the emphasis on generating downforce will pivot away from the dominant and intricate floors and venturi tunnels. Instead, active aerodynamics may be deployed across the front and rear wings to reduce drag and potentially improve overtaking. A new, ultra-efficient configuration called “X-mode” will be triggered on the straights and a higher-downforce “Z-mode” made available for cornering, replacing the current Drag Reduction System (DRS) overtaking aid.

There will also be changes to the power unit for 2026. While power from the hybrid unit has dropped from 550-560 kilowatts to 400 kilowatts, the battery element has risen significantly from 120 to 350 kilowatts—an almost 300 per cent increase in electric power. The amount of energy that can be recuperated during the braking phase is doubled to 8.5 megajoules per lap. While current Formula 1 power units are already the most efficient in the world, the 2026 power units will also run on advanced sustainable fuels.

MCL40A

Even though the car will not be officially unveiled until the new year, in preparation for the 2026 season, the MCL40A will be publicly offered for auction at the RM Sotheby’s sale in Abu Dhabi on 5 December 2025 in collaboration with McLaren Racing. In a world first, bidders will have the chance to become the proud owner of a chassis campaigned by one of the team’s F1 drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. It will come complete with 2026-specification power unit from Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains and will be presented in its season livery.

Given the strict regulations conceived to prevent rivals from gaining access to relevant intellectual property (an element heightened by the technical regulation changes for the 2026 season), McLaren Racing will deliver the MCL40A to the winning bidder at the end of the first quarter of 2028. In the meantime, the team shall provide a 2025 non-running show car for display purposes. Once handed over to its private owner, the chassis may be used in designated demonstration runs and at track days, supported by a crew of McLaren Racing engineers and mechanics to fulfil operational and technical requirements of Mclaren Racing, MHPP, the FIA and the FIA’s common suppliers in respect to the use of the Formula 1 car.

Since the dawn of the turbo-hybrid era in F1 in 2014, extremely few operational cars have ever made their way into private ownership. Moreover, very seldom do the circumstances arise for non-professional racing drivers to experience such contemporary machinery so soon after its front-line career. It further cements why the sale of a yet unraced MCL40A is so remarkable.

Making the opportunity presented here even more special, the winning bidder will gain exclusive access to the McLaren Racing team. They and five guests will be invited to meet Brown, Norris, and Piastri, and tour the team’s world-famous McLaren Technology Centre headquarters in Woking ahead of the 2026 F1 season. In addition, they may attend the official public launch of the car plus two races, including the historic Monaco race. This also comprises premium hospitality experiences and exclusive access, and the opportunity to watch selected track sessions from the team’s pit garage and the McLaren Team Hub. For a full breakdown of the incredible bonuses, which also include visits to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Indianapolis 500, please contact an RM Sotheby’s Car Specialist.

The car may be driven in demonstration runs and at track day events; operated with the full support of a dedicated crew of McLaren Racing engineers and mechanics, subject to requirements of MHPP in respect of the Power Unit, McLaren Racing in respect of the chassis, and to the requirements of the FIA and the FIA’s common suppliers. The winning bidder will enter into a Sales Contract directly with McLaren Racing, which requires the bidder’s review prior to bidding at the auction; and, in conjunction with the review of the Bidder’s Conditions of Business for this lot, the bidder must complete the Bidder’s Participation Contract for this lot prior to bidding at the auction. Bidders should note that the images used to illustrate this catalogue description are taken from the 2025 season and do not necessarily depict the car on offer.

Never before has a future race car been publicly offered for sale at auction. RM Sotheby’s is honoured to deliver this ground-breaking opportunity in collaboration with McLaren Racing. McLaren Racing is one of the only teams to have achieved the Triple Crown of motorsport by winning 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Monaco Grand Prix, and Indianapolis 500. Therefore, also offered in Abu Dhabi is a 2026 Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team INDYCAR and the McLaren’s first LMDh hypercar from its debut season in the 2027 World Endurance Championship to reflect this unique feat. For McLaren Racing and motorsport enthusiasts this is, quite simply, an unmissable proposition.