RM Sotheby’s announces two marquee offerings for the Official Auction of the LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX in collaboration with Wynn Las Vegas. Hosted on Friday, 17 November at the resort’s Awakening Theater, the auction will be headlined by Lewis Hamilton’s 2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 W04, driven by the legendary Formula 1 driver in his inaugural victory for Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. The auction will also feature football superstar Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey from his final NFL game.
The First Race-Winning Lewis Hamilton Mercedes F1 Car
Few athletes overshadow the sport they excel in. Even fewer rise to become global cultural icons. Sir Lewis Hamilton is more than just a racer; he has transcended the confines of racetracks to become a household name since his Formula 1 debut in 2007. Undeniably, Hamilton stands among the greatest to ever pilot a Formula 1 car and has championed transformative changes throughout the sport. He is a fashion and cultural luminary and has passionately advocated for various environmental and humanitarian causes.
In 2013, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, undergoing a metamorphosis, signed the then one-time world champion with McLaren Racing to its roster—along with former racing driver and Executive Director of Williams F1 Team Toto Wolff as its new Team Principal and CEO. Rumored that the legendary Niki Lauda influenced Hamilton’s decision to join the then under-performing team, Hamilton’s transition to drive for Mercedes turned into a game-changing move, ushering in a legendary new chapter for the sport. As with most sports, acquiring the final game-worn jersey, shoes, or championship ball could be deemed conceivable, albeit a rare opportunity, but in the realm of Formula 1, it is nearly impossible—until now.
Among the multitude of race-conquering Mercedes formula cars tucked away in museums or private collections, one has emerged for sale. The 2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 W04 is not just any car; it is the machine that delivered Hamilton’s inaugural victory for Mercedes in his first year in the seat and, perhaps more significantly, signaled the onset of the ensuing era that would dominate the sport for years to come and propel Hamilton to true legend status. It was the warning shot to all competitors in the field that this was no passing phase that Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team was determined to compete at the highest level. Hamilton’s win in the W04 was the beginning of a new dynasty—transformative for both Mercedes and Formula 1 as a whole. Fans bore witness to something rare: a partnership that was not just about machine and man but about harmony, ambition, and groundbreaking achievements.
“In the world of automotive greatness, few marques match the allure of the Mercedes Silver Arrows. The Mercedes W196, which sold for $29.6 million, remains the most valuable Formula 1 car ever sold. However, it’s the Mercedes-Benz Uhlenhaut Coupé that fetched $142 million, cementing the Silver Arrows’ place in history books as one of the world’s most valuable and recognizable brands. Now, adding to the legacy of the Silver Arrows, we introduce the W04—a car whose significance cannot be overstated,” said Shelby Myers, Global Head of Private Sales, RM Sotheby’s. “Driven by Formula 1’s most successful driver and sporting icon, Lewis Hamilton, this car delivered his very first win in a Mercedes F1 car, signaling the beginning of the marque’s most dominant period: the Hamilton-Mercedes dynasty. This pairing can only be compared to Jordan and the Bulls, Brady and the Patriots, or Messi and Argentina. Given the unparalleled lineage and being the sole example outside of Mercedes’ origination publicly available, the pairing of Lewis and the W04 elevates it beyond just a Formula 1 car. This undeniable piece could emerge as one of the most coveted collectibles in the foreseeable future.”
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Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2023 Game–Worn Jersey | Final Career Game
In his storied twenty-three-year football career, Tom Brady achieved unparalleled success that will likely never be replicated. Brady is a seven-time Super Bowl winner, which is not only the most of any player, but also more than any franchise. Brady ended his career as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (89,214) and touchdown passes (649), ranking first all-time in Super Bowl MVPS (5). He was also selected to the Pro Bowl a record 15 times—the most of any other player in NFL history. In addition, Brady is a three-time 1st-Team All-Pro selected and a three-time AP MVP.
It is these statistics as the most decorated player in NFL history, and his unwavering focus and dedication for the game, that inextricably link him to his deserved nickname, the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.).
Brady’s 2020 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was more than just a quest for another championship; it was a journey to prove his own self-reliance. He set out to establish that he could excel outside the system that had defined his career and shake his association with Patriots’ Head Coach Bill Belichick. His performances showcased his mastery of the game, his ability to read defenses, and his signature clutch playmaking.
Brady would end the year in the same place he had been nine times before, leading his team out of the tunnel before the Super Bowl – this time against the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. Brady was responsible for three touchdowns, two to his former teammate in New England, Rob Gronkowski, and no interceptions on his way to a record-extending fifth Super Bowl MVP.
Brady would stay with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for another two years. Although they did not achieve the same success in the postseason, his passing ability would continue to reach new heights, even in the twilight of his career. In 2021, Brady led the league in passing and threw for a career-high 5,316 yards. At 44 years old, Brady was still setting records.
Ahead of the 2022 NFC Wild Card matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys, the throngs of national media present for the game could not help but speculate on whether Brady’s career was finally coming to an end.
On 16 January 2023, Brady entered Raymond James Stadium for his Monday Night Football NFC Wildcard Playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. Donning this white home jersey illustrated with his signature and iconic #12, Tom Brady would end a legendary and prolific 23-season career in the NFL.
“There are only a few athletes who are universally accepted as the greatest in their sport. For the National Football League, it’s Tom Brady. Worn at the very last game of his tenured career, this historic item is a tangible reminder of Brady’s unparalleled legacy, and as such, is arguably the most coveted NFL jersey to ever come to auction. We’re delighted to partner with RM Sotheby’s in showcasing a jersey of unparalleled significance on the auction stage in Las Vegas,” said Brahm Wachter, Head of Streetwear and Modern Collectibles for Sotheby’s. “Presenting two star lots in their auction debut, which belong to arguably two of the greatest athletes of all time, this event is certain to be among the year’s most anticipated and renowned in auction history.”
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