A group of personal effects that belonged to five-time Formula 1 world champion Juan Manuel Fangio are heading for the auction block on 25 April, as part of RM Sotheby’s 2026 Monaco sale. Consigned directly by the Argentinian’s family, every lot is offered without reserve and is accompanied by a letter of authenticity.
Widely considered the greatest driver of the post-war era, Fangio claimed five world titles across four different constructors between 1951 and 1957 – a record that stood for 46 years until Michael Schumacher surpassed it in 2003.
One of the most compelling Fangio consignments is an 18-carat gold Omega Trésor wristwatch, presented to him following his victory in the 1955 Venezuelan Grand Prix at the wheel of a Maserati 300S. The caseback is engraved in Spanish to commemorate the achievement, and was a watch Fangio would wear for the rest of his life.
Further strengthening its provenance is a photograph of Fangio embracing a victorious Ayrton Senna at the 1993 Brazilian Grand Prix, the watch clearly visible on his wrist. The image is included in the lot, alongside the original Omega case and a letter of authenticity from the family. It is estimated at €12,000–22,000.
Complementing the watch are a number of personal items that tell the story of Fangio’s life and career both on- and off-track. These include his 1955 Argentine passport (est.€3500-5500) , a pair of period Suixtil racing trousers (est. €5500-8500) and his 1950 International Driving Permit – the year of the very first Formula 1 World Championship season, in which Fangio finished runner-up to Giuseppe Farina (est. €2500-3500). The estimates for each of these items are available upon request.
Another big ticket item is the winner’s trophy from the 1957 12 hours of Sebring, where Fangio partnered Jean Behra to secure victory in their Maserati 450S ahead of Stirling Moss and Harry Schell’s Maserati 300S (€8500-13,500).
It will be interesting to see just how far collectors will bid for personal effects connected to a man whose cars command such extraordinary sums. The Mercedes-Benz W196R Stromlinienwagen he raced in 1954 sold for £42.7 million in 2025 – the second-highest price ever achieved at auction – while the open-wheel W196R variant ranks tenth on the same list.
RM Sotheby’s Monaco sale takes place at the Grimaldi Forum on 25 April. View the full auction catalogue here.
