Ayrton Senna won the Brazilian Grand Prix with the new McLaren MP4/6 on March 24, 1991. Senna had already taken pole position, but had to concede to Nigel Mansell after the start, who also set the fastest lap of the race. On lap 26, Senna was then able to overtake the Briton at the pit stop and win. Riccardo Patrese finished second in the Williams and his team-mate Gerhard Berger third. Senna also won the world championship in 1991 with a total of seven victories, with Mansell coming second with five.
The McLaren MP4/6 was the last Formula 1 car to win an F1 World Championship with a twelve-cylinder engine. In addition, Berger and Senna still shifted gears manually and with a clutch, which was also the last time they won a world championship. The engine was the RA121-E from Honda, which produced 735 hp at 13,500 rpm from 3497 cm3. The monoposto had a carbon fiber monocoque and had been newly developed due to the switch from the V10 to the V12. It was used in the 1991 and 1992 GP seasons, but in the second season it was no longer quite a match for the Williams-Renault. The result was five victories (3 x Senna, 2 x Berger), but only 4th and 5th place in the world championship.
Chassis MP4/6-1 was the first car built. And chassis MP4/6/1 was not only the car with which Senna achieved his famous first home victory. It was also the car in which the Brazilian gained his first experience of the new MP4/6 together with Gerhard Berger in Estoril in February 1991.
The car itself was a masterpiece of engineering, developed by chief designer Neil Oatley under the technical direction of Gordon Murray.
Almost 35 years later, the MP4/6 remains an analog dream, representing one of Formula 1's most famous eras.
Winning eight Grand Prix races and the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships, the MP4/6 marked the beginning and end of one of McLaren's most successful periods in modern racing. It will forever remain the model that brought Senna his last world championship title.
Now this famous racing car is going under the hammer at RM Sotheby's in a "sealed bid" process. Prior to the sale, the McLaren Heritage MP4/6-1 chassis was fully restored to race-ready condition and then entrusted to marque specialist Paul Lanzante Ltd for an oil change, service and static commissioning. It will return to Lanzante Ltd (McLaren Petersfield) for a further inspection and launch before being delivered to its new owner. It will be offered with a McLaren Certificate of Authenticity as well as all the necessary starting equipment including an external starter motor, water tower, remote control dashboard, fuel pump and engine preheater.
The RM specialists calculated the value at USD 12 to 15 million. Due to the special bidding procedure, the sale price and the success of the auction will remain secret. Bids will be accepted until December 11, 2025.
Further information can be found on the RM/Sotheby's website.
