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The Most Expensive Formula 1 Cards of All-Time

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Jason Koeppel // ONE37pm

So, you're wondering what the most expensive Formula 1 cards of all-time are? Let's get in to it!

Since its reintroduction into the hobby, Formula 1 has become one of the strongest markets in all of trading cards. This coincides with the rapid growth of the sport in the U.S., as more Americans than ever are attending races and tuning into broadcasts.

Related: The 31 Most Expensive Pokemon Cards of All-Time

Drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles LeClerc and George Russell are bringing new levels of excitement to the sport. Luxury sponsors like Mercedes and Ferrari only accentuate the prowess that these racers operate with. Now the thrill and fandom of F1 are intersecting in the form of trading cards.

Topps released three Formula 1 sets in 2020: Chrome, Sapphire and Dynasty. Within a year, these box prices skyrocketed, which may explain the ludicrous premium that these cards bring. So, buckle up and start your engines: here are the 10 most expensive Formula 1 cards of all-time. To keep the list fresh, we are only allowing each card to appear once.  

1. Lewis Hamilton 2020 Topps Chrome F1 Superfractor 1/1 PSA 7 - $900,000

2020 Topps Chrome F1 Superfractor Lewis Hamilton
Goldin

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.

2. Lewis Hamilton 2020 Topps Chrome Sapphire F1 Padparadscha 1/1 PSA 8 - $740,000

Lewis Hamilton 2020 Topps Chrome Sapphire F1 Padparadscha
CardLadder

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.

3. Max Verstappen 2020 Topps Chrome F1 Superfractor 1/1 Rookie Autograph PSA 9/AUTO 9 - $534,000

2020 Topps Chrome F1 Autographs SuperFractor Max Verstappen
Goldin

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.

4. Max Verstappen 2020 Topps Chrome Sapphire F1 Padparadscha 1/1 Rookie PSA 9 - $336,000

2020 TOPPS CHROME FORMULA 1 SAPPHIRE PADPARADSCHA MAX VERSTAPPEN
PWCC

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.

5. Lewis Hamilton 2006 Futera Grand Prix Rookie PSA 9 - $312,000

2006 Futera Grand Prix 22Next22 95 Lewis Hamilton
Goldin

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.

6. Charles Leclerc 2020 Topps Chrome Superfractor 1/1 Rookie PSA 9 - $264,000

020 Topps Chrome F1 Superfractor 4 Charles Leclerc
Goldin

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.

7. Max Verstappen 2020 Topps Dynasty F1 Rookie Patch Autograph 1/1 PSA 10 - $170,400

2020 Topps F1 Dynasty Autographed Patch Gold DAP MV Max Verstappen
Goldin

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.

T-8. Lewis Hamilton 2020 Topps Dynasty F1 Red Patch Autograph /5 - $90,000

2020 Topps Dynasty F1 Autographed Patch Red DAP IILH Lewis Hamilton
Goldin

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.

T-8. Max Verstappen 2020 Topps Chrome F1 Rookie Red Refractor Autograph /5 PSA 9/AUTO 10 - $90,000

2020 Topps Chrome F1 Autographs Red Refractor F1A MV Max Verstappen
Goldin

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.

10. Charles Leclerc 2020 Topps Dynasty F1 Ferrari Patch Auto 1/1- $80,100

Charles Leclerc 2020 Topps Dynasty F1 Ferrari Patch Auto 11
CardLadder

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.

Which of these on our list of most expensive Formula 1 cards would you most love to own? Is there a card that you think could soon crack the list? Let us know @CardTalkPod on Instagram and Twitter!  

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