The Most Expensive Formula 1 Cards of All-Time

2020 Topps Chrome F1 has been one of the most collected sets internationally in recent years, and few cards were more desired than this Lewis Hamilton 1/1 superfractor. A seven-time champion, Hamilton is considered by many to be the greatest driver in F1 history. It was incredible for the hobby to see some of his prices realized when this 1/1 sold for $900,000 in May 2022.

The padparadscha is the rarest sapphire on Earth, and this is one of the rarest Lewis Hamilton cards ever. While not as lucrative as his 1/1 superfractor, it is still a remarkable card of the greatest driver in F1 history. This is the crown jewel of the 2020 Topps Chrome sapphire product, and it now belongs in the collection of renowned collector, Bolillo Lajan San.

Autographs were not guaranteed in 2020 Topps Chrome, so pulling this card resembles the odds of winning the lottery. On top of that, getting a PSA 9 on a condition-sensitive card like this only multiplies the rarity factor. Verstappen is an unstoppable force on the F1 circuit currently, winning nearly every race in the 2023 season with ease. The collector who dropped over $500,000 for this one likely feels pretty good about that purchase.

Topps Chrome Sapphire adds a chef’s touch to an already iconic product. The cracked ice parallels, like this padparadscha 1/1, have an undeniable eye appeal in a hobby filled with colors and parallels. This Verstappen will make you do a double take, which is what other drivers have done all year long when the Red Bull racer passes them.

Before Topps got the licensing to Formula 1 cards, companies like Futera produced small-scale sets for the drivers and teams on the circuit. This copy from 2006 features a young Lewis Hamilton before his 103 wins and iconic Mercedes branding. These cards were also notoriously tough to grade, so this POP 2 rookie card of the GOAT is one you don’t see every day.

The Monacan-born Charles Leclerc may not have the track record of Hamilton or Verstappen, but he is still one of the most stylish and exciting drivers on the F1 circuit today. At just 25, Leclerc has already stapled impressive wins to his resume, but he has a lot more to give to Team Ferrari. This superfractor is the racer’s best card, and it also popped a PSA 9 grade. If Charles keeps expanding his legacy, this will one day be viewed as a solid investment piece.

The Topps Dynasty line has been a consistent fixture in baseball, soccer and Formula 1. This inaugural 2020 set showcases race-worn patches filled with bright colors and familiar logos. This is undoubtedly Mad Max’s best patch autograph, as it features a bolded signature and a relic piece of the Red Bull logo. To top it all off, this stunner notched a PSA 10 grade, which is a near-impossible feat for thicker trading cards. It last sold for over $170,000 in August 2022.

Nothing really beats a perfect patch/on-card signature trading card. Are there more visually striking pieces of cardboard? We don’t think so. No 2020 Dynasty 1/1s of Hamilton have ever sold publicly, so this is by far his best card from that set to hit an auction house. This stunner reached a final sale price of $90,000 during a Goldin auction in 2022.

If you ever get the opportunity, try to add a Topps Chrome red refractor to your collection. No matter the player, these cards pop like no other. It just so happens that the player on this autographed gem is the most dominant driver of the 2023 season. Graded a PSA 9, this aesthetic marvel last sold for $90,000.

In terms of iconic brand logos, it really doesn’t get much better than this. This 1/1 LeClerc patch auto encapsulates an incredible race-worn relic of the Ferrari logo. While F1 doesn’t boast an NFL shield or an NBA logoman, this patch certainly makes up for it. Coupled with a bold autograph, this may be the best Leclerc RPA to ever hit the market.