Lewis Hamilton was forced to sell supercar for huge profit before it was crashed

Lewis Hamilton's 2025 Formula 1 campaign has been something of a mixed bag so far. The seven-time world champion has offered glimpses of his former excellence but has struggled to find a consistent rhythm at Ferrari following his high-profile switch from Mercedes earlier this year. Away from the circuit, Hamilton continues to stand firm in his values, namely his unwavering dedication to environmental activism, in spite of accusations of hypocrisy, given his profession.

This principle was the driving force behind his decision to part with one of his most treasured vehicles - a bespoke Pagani Zonda 760 LH - only to see it later wrecked by its new owner, who had first sold it on for a huge profit. This exclusive supercar, custom-built for Hamilton in 2014, was a formidable creation. With a ferocious 7.3-litre V12 generating 760 horsepower, it was painted in a bold purple hue accented with exposed carbon fibre, and it boasted a rare six-speed manual gearbox - a detail specifically requested by Hamilton, making it the first Zonda 760 to forgo the standard automatic.

The Zonda, which set Hamilton back about £1.6million, was the crown jewel in his estimated £12.5m supercar collection. Yet, despite its dramatic looks and sound, Hamilton had mixed feelings, at one point slamming the handling as "terrible."

By 2021, Hamilton's deepening concern for the environment and desire to lower his personal emissions pushed him to make a significant lifestyle change. Speaking ahead of the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix, he explained that he had stopped driving his supercars, switching over to his electric Mercedes EQC.

"I'm making a lot of changes in my personal life," he said. "I don't drive any of the cars that I own any more. I only drive my [electric Mercedes] EQC."

The Zonda, with its thirsty engine, no longer aligned with his eco-conscious outlook. So he let it go. And financially, it proved to be a masterstroke - selling for an eye-watering £8.5m, netting Hamilton a £6.9m windfall.

Sadly, the story took a tragic turn in 2023. The new, unnamed owner crashed the car inside the Penmaenbach Tunnel in Conwy, Wales, slamming it into a wall. Online images showed the car in ruins: the front clamshell crushed, suspension ruined, doors and windshield cracked, and rear bumper mangled - a very expensive accident.

Incredibly, the driver walked away unscathed, and no one else was involved. It wasn't even the car's first mishap - Hamilton himself pranged it in Monaco back in 2015, blaming the crash on being ill and sleep-deprived after bumping into three parked cars.

Fortunately, the Zonda has since been meticulously repaired. Sightings last September showed it leaving the Pagani factory for a final test before being returned. Its deep purple sheen and exposed carbon center have been revived, and the previously controversial LED DRLs were removed.

As one of only five Zonda 760s ever crafted, it highlights both Pagani's artistry and Hamilton's knack for smart, if sometimes unconventional, decisions. The 40-year-old has yet to reach the podium with Ferrari this season, recording best finishes of fourth at Imola, Silverstone, and Austria.

He currently holds sixth in the Drivers' Championship, trailing Oscar Piastri by over 150 points. He's also 30 points behind Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc and narrowly ahead of Kimi Antonelli - the rising star who replaced him at Mercedes. Up next is the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend, a race Hamilton has conquered eight times - though his last win there came back in 2020.