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Motorsport enthusiasts dreaming of owning a piece of Formula One history now have the chance, as a full-scale model of the W15—driven by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell during the 2024 season is up for grabs in Poole, Dorset. The model mimics the real car in stunning detail, complete with a carbon-fibre and fibreglass body, authentic Pirelli slick tyres, and even the original-style steering wheel and harness.
However, before buyers get too excited, there’s one critical caveat: this version lacks a drivetrain and running gear. That means taking it for a spin through town is off the table, for now.
A symbolic farewell to a Mercedes era
While this model may not move, its legacy certainly does. The W15 represents a historic turning point in Lewis Hamilton’s career. At the end of the 2024 Formula One season, Hamilton made headlines by leaving Mercedes after more than a decade, embarking on a new chapter with Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc.
This model, therefore, immortalizes the final car he drove for Mercedes, an outfit with which he won six of his seven world titles and claimed 84 out of his 105 Grand Prix victories.
Iconic moments and mixed emotions
The W15 marked both triumph and turmoil. It was the car that carried Hamilton to a record-breaking ninth victory at the British Grand Prix, ending his winless streak at Silverstone in dramatic fashion. It also gave him his final Mercedes win—an inherited victory in Belgium after teammate George Russell’s disqualification.
Despite these milestones, Hamilton wasn’t entirely fond of the W15. Reflecting on a difficult qualifying session in Brazil, he remarked:
I’m not going to be negative. It is what it is. I don’t have any hopes for the race. [I’m] just going to do what I can do. With the car I have right now, it’s the worst I’ve ever driven... it’s undrivable.
Nevertheless, he closed his Mercedes chapter with flair, overtaking Russell on the final lap in Abu Dhabi, cementing an unforgettable farewell.
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