Official MP4-21 McLaren F1® Team Show Car With 2008 Championship-winning Livery

We are proud to present this exceptional official show car to auction, authentically reproducing the McLaren MP4-21 and uniquely featuring Lewis Hamilton 2008 Championship-winning livery.

Hamilton drove the MP4-21 in his first official Formula One test in 2006, before joining the team fully in 2007 and winning his first World Championship in 2008.

This rare show car celebrates and commemorates both the first time Hamilton took to the track in an official F1 test and the first time he was crowned World Champion a mere two years later.

The dawn of a legend

The original McLaren MP4-21 competed in the 2006 World Championship and was driven by Kimi Räikkönen, Juan Pablo Montoya and Pedro de la Rosa. A three-day group test at Silverstone in September 2006 featured six teams and multiple decorated drivers – but it was Lewis Hamilton who made headlines. 

Hamilton’s performance in the McLaren's MP4-21 over these three days would be a deciding factor in his immediate future in the sport, and he took his opportunity, recording the third quickest lap of the final day and out-pacing existing McLaren driver Pedro de la Rosa.

Hamilton would later go on to call driving the MP4-21 at the Silverstone test “the best week of my life at the time” in his autobiography Lewis Hamilton: My Story.

A champion emerges

Lewis’ two seasons with McLaren were monumental and historic, with the now seven-time World Champion leaving a lasting impression on the team.

Joining the F1® grid fully in 2007, Hamilton impressed immediately, finishing on the podium in his debut Grand Prix and going on to claim four victories and 12 podiums (including wins) for McLaren throughout the season. This marked the most successful rookie season – tied with Jacques Villeneuve – with the Brit finishing only one point shy of winning the Championship in his inaugural year.

He wouldn’t have to wait long to secure his first title. Claiming five victories and 10 podiums (including wins), Hamilton clinched the 2008 championship by one point to his closest rival – Felipe Massa - with the dramatic finale in Brazil being the deciding factor. The livery from this historic moment now adorns this breathtaking show car, significantly including the number 22, with 2008 remaining the only example of Hamilton winning the championship under a different number to his now trademark 44.

A visual masterpiece

This show car has been built by McLaren F1® Team and is now being auction by F1® Authentics for one collector to own. Featuring the iconic chrome livery, synonymous with McLaren’s early 2000s era, as well as Lewis’ race number ‘22’, this show car is the perfect tribute to his phenomenal debut and maiden victory with the Woking-based team.

The 2008 livery was first revealed at the Mercedes-Benz's motor sport museum in January that year and was first seen on track at the Circuito Permanente de Jerez in Spain the same month. The iconic grey of the team and red of main sponsor Vodafone is draped across both wings, sidepods, side vents and above the body. Other visible sponsors include Johnnie Walker, Hilton, Schüco International, Aigo, and Santander.

The livery would go on to be seen crossing the line as the 2008 World Drivers' Championship car for Lewis Hamilton and would finish second in the Constructors' Championship. As of 2024, this livery remains the most recent McLaren Formula One car to be seen winning the drivers' championship

Now, one lucky collector can own this unique show car, perfectly capturing the essence of the vehicle that saw Sir Lewis Hamilton begin his storied career, whilst simultaneously commemorating his first world championship victory.

For the ultimate motorsport enthusiast, this is a piece of automotive memorabilia that has layers of historical significance. The chassis and livery of this masterpiece individually and collectively tell the story behind the emergence of the most decorated F1® driver in history. Now, you can become the steward of a part of that legacy.

Features

• Official MP4-21 show car built by McLaren F1® Team
• Lewis Hamilton 2008 Championship-winning livery
• Number ‘22’ - the only season Hamilton used this number
• Manufactured to recreate the original using carbon fibre
• No engine or gear box – for show/display purposes only