Ayrton Senna’s legendary 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix-winning McLaren MP4/6, the car that carried him to his first home victory and helped seal his third Formula 1 World Championship, will go under the hammer with estimates between $12,000,000 and $15,000,000.
The McLaren MP4/6-1, chassis number one, was the car Senna tested in February 1991 at Estoril before taking it to Interlagos for one of the most dramatic wins in Formula 1 history. Fighting gearbox failure in the closing laps and running stuck in sixth gear, Senna somehow held off Riccardo Patrese to cross the line just 2.991 seconds ahead.
Exhausted and barely able to lift the trophy, Senna called it divine intervention, declaring: “By the finish I had nothing left. God gave me this race.”
He later reflected on the moment: “I only came back to reality when I saw the chequered flag. Then, it felt really good to be alive, to be at Interlagos, in my land, seeing my people so happy. It wasn’t the greatest win in my life, but it was the hardest-fought…”
Designed by Neil Oatley under the technical direction of Gordon Murray, the MP4/6 was powered by a screaming 3.5-litre Honda V12 producing 720 horsepower at 13,800 rpm, paired to a six-speed manual gearbox. It was the last V12, manual-gearbox car to win a Formula 1 World Championship, symbolising the end of an era.
A masterpiece of McLaren engineering
That 1991 season yielded eight victories for McLaren, sealing both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. After Interlagos, the MP4/6-1 was retired to McLaren’s collection, where it remained for almost 30 years before being sold to its current owner in 2020.
Before changing hands, McLaren Heritage fully recommissioned the car to race-ready condition, and marque specialist Lanzante Ltd later carried out further service and inspection.
The car will be delivered with its McLaren Certificate of Authenticity and all official equipment, including the external starter, water tower, remote dash, fuel primer, and engine pre-heater.
Offered directly from its sole private owner, chassis MP4/6-1 is described as one of the most significant Formula 1 cars ever made, the machine that delivered Ayrton Senna’s most emotional victory in front of 70,000 ecstatic fans and confirmed his place among racing’s immortals. “Sempre, Senna.”
Sotheby's Photo Gallery of Senna and the McLaren MP4/6
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