One of the most iconic pieces of racing history, the Ayrton Senna driven Williams FW16, is set to be auctioned off in New York. RM Sotheby's has listed the historic FW16B-01 chassis as part of 'The Now & Contemporary Evening Auction', with estimates placing its value between 4 million and 6 million dollars. This marks the first time this significant machine has been offered for public sale.
The car holds immense sentimental value, stemming from a promise made by the Williams team to the three-time world champion. The Grove-based squad had agreed to gift a chassis to the Brazilian legend if they secured the constructors' championship in 1994. Although Senna tragically passed away in a different chassis at San Marino, the team honored their word by gifting the FW16B-01 to his family at the end of that season.
The condition of the car is remarkable, as it remains entirely unrestored after three decades. It is one of only two surviving FW16s driven by Senna. While he never competed in a race with this specific chassis, he notably piloted it during the race-day warm-up at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Interlagos, where he set a faster pace than his rival Michael Schumacher.
Technical records confirm that the car was also shared with his teammate Damon Hill during testing sessions at Jerez, accumulating 842 km across three sessions. The Senna family maintained ownership from 1994 until 2024, after which it was acquired by the current owner through a private sale arranged by the auction house.
"Chassis FW16B-01 remained completely untouched for the following 30 years, with a notable exception being the addition of Senna’s personal seat, and is today presented in totally preserved, unrestored condition," the auction listing states. Having remained unused since its 2024 acquisition, this represents a unique opportunity for collectors to preserve a vital piece of Formula 1 heritage.
Read Also
Racing Bulls resmi mengonfirmasi Liam Lawson dan Arvid Lindblad sebagai pembalap untuk musim 2027. Baca analisis mendalam mengenai strategi tim di sini.
George Russell luncurkan GR63 Karting Academy di Silverstone untuk bantu finansial pembalap muda. Baca analisis mendalam di sini.
Racing Bulls resmi pertahankan susunan pembalap untuk musim depan. Simak analisis mendalam, perjalanan karier, dan persiapan teknis selengkapnya di sini.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!