A dream car rarely comes about through reason; rather, it is a combination of passion and imagination. For some, it is the memory of a poster above their childhood bed; for others, it is the image of a moment on an empty road, somewhere between the sky and the asphalt. Ultimately, however, it is always about the feeling that technology and emotion become one. And it is precisely this feeling that the McLaren F1 embodies like no other modern car.

The car, which will be auctioned in Abu Dhabi in December, was built in 1994 and bears the chassis number 014. It is one of the early examples of only 64 road versions built. It originally went to a member of the Brunei royal family, in the striking color Titanium Yellow with a black interior. Later, in 2007, it underwent a complete overhaul at McLaren in Woking. It was given a new “Ibis White” paint job, an aerodynamic high-downforce package, and an LM-inspired interior that further enhances the car’s character.

A 6.1-liter V12 from BMW powers the rear end, and in many respects, you could say “it doesn’t get any better than this.”

627 hp without turbocharging, just pure naturally aspirated engine power. Today, that figure seems almost nostalgic, but anyone who has ever seen an F1 in action knows that its power inspires awe rather than just numbers. A top speed of 391 km/h, achieved at a time when electronic aids played hardly any role. Incidentally, it was the fastest car of its time.

Gordon Murray’s concept was uncompromising from the outset. The driver sits centrally, slightly offset to the front, with two passenger seats on either side. The engine compartment is lined with gold foil to reflect heat. The F1 was not created to be a supercar, but rather to show how far you can go when you refuse to accept a single compromise.

The model numbered 014 tells its story with almost museum-like precision. Every kilometer is documented, every change traceable. The car was hardly ever driven, but remained alive. The signatures of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton on the door sills bear witness to the two eras that this car connects: the golden age of analog racing technology and the age of digital perfection.

When the F1 goes up for auction in Abu Dhabi on December 5, 2025, the price is likely to exceed US$21 million. But the amount is secondary—for us as well as, presumably, for the future owner.

Other spectacular items will be offered at RM Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week auction in the luxurious setting of The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, including a McLaren Formula 1 Team car for the 2026 season that has never been driven, which will actually be around $10 million cheaper than the McLaren F1.