Owning a Formula 1 car is no longer an abstract dream limited to team managers and world champions. With enough money, it’s possible for private buyers to acquire something that resembles, once raced, or is directly inspired by an F1 car. The catch is simple: the closer you get to the real thing, the higher the price.

From carbon fiber shells to championship-winning machines and road-going hypercars, the market spans a wide and expensive spectrum.

A current Formula 1 race car

Estimated cost: $15.9 million

Putting a precise price on a modern F1 car is difficult, but the range is well understood. The teams operated under a budget cap of $145.6 million in the 2022 season, a figure that covers most operating costs but excludes driver salaries and some other expenses. Dividing that number doesn’t reveal the cost of a single car, but it does reveal component-level estimates.

Many individual parts are extraordinarily expensive. A modern F1 steering wheel, effectively a sophisticated computer, can cost around $50,000. Front and rear wings together can add up to roughly $200,000, depending on aerodynamic complexity. These components are custom built in small volumes, which increases costs.

The biggest expenses come from the chassis, power unit and gearbox. Each of the limited number of engines allowed per season is valued at approximately $10.6 million. All together, experts generally put the cost of a current-generation F1 competition car at between $12 million and $15 million.

The visual replica: F1 show cars

Starting price: about $125,000

For buyers interested in looks over performance, show cars offer the most accessible entry point. Replica F1 cars are available through specialist platforms for around $119,300.

These vehicles are not designed to operate. They usually lack functional engine, transmission and aerodynamics. Instead, they serve as full-scale visual representations of an F1 car, suitable for display in private collections, showrooms or garages.

Cars used in races with history

Price range: several million dollars

Complete Formula 1 cars that have competed in races are in a very different category. Public auctions provide a rough benchmark for prices, especially for cars associated with legendary drivers.

Machines driven by icons like Ayrton Senna or Michael Schumacher rarely sell for less than $5 million. At the top end of the market, the most expensive F1 car ever sold was the Mercedes driven by Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1954 world championship, which fetched an estimated $31.8 million.

Although some historic cars are mechanically simpler than modern F1 machines, operating them is still risky. Replacement parts are scarce, and even minor damage can wipe out millions in value.