Rare McLaren collection with last ever F1 model hits market as 'secretive tycoon' sells up

A rare collection of McLaren cars previously owned by a reportedly 'secretive tycoon' have been put up for sale. The vehicles include a hugely valuable McLaren F1, which was the last of its kind to be produced.

French entrepreneur Mansour Ojjeh, who had huge influence over McLaren over the years, owned the collection of cars. However, upon his death in 2021, they were left unowned. British automotive firm Tom Hartley Jnr has since been given the task of selling the lucrative models. Among the collection is the last McLaren F1 ever produced. Not only are McLaren F1s already hugely rare, but this specific car has a custom colour called Yquem.

Ojjeh was CEO of TAG, which owned 14.32 per cent of the McLaren Group, whose assets include McLaren Automotive and the McLaren Formula One. He spent the earlier parts of his life obsessed with Ferraris and collected the Italian manufacturer's vehicles.

However, he then collected McLarens due to his connection with the brand. Towards the end of his life, his collection of cars featured exclusively McLarens.

Meanwhile, it has been a successful season so far for McLaren's F1 team. Oscar Piastri leads the Drivers' Championship, with Lando Norris in second place. However, Piastri was furious after receiving a 10-second penalty while he led Sunday's British Grand Prix.

The Australian was punished for braking too significantly behind the Safety Car. He then swapped places with Norris and attempted to ask for his place back, only to be denied by McLaren.

"I'm not going to say much, I'll get myself in trouble. Well done to Nico [Hulkenberg, who finished third] - I think that's the highlight of the day. I'll leave it there," Piastri said afterwards.

"Apparently you can't brake behind the Safety Car anymore. I did it for five laps before that and, again, I'm not going to say too much because I'll get myself in trouble.

"I thought the penalty was pretty bad but, anyway, I'm glad we had a quick car today, showed what I needed to prove, and it's just disappointing when what you deserve gets taken from you, but that's how it goes.

"I hit the brakes, saw the Safety Car lights went off so I didn't accelerate again, and Max [Verstappen] went past me which was a bit strange, and then I got a penalty for it so about as simple as that. The pace was good, I did everything I needed to, just didn't get the result I deserved."