Super rare Dragon Ball F1 flag illustrated by Akira Toriyama sells for nearly $80,000

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A unique collectible item that combines Formula 1 racing and the Dragon Ball anime recently sold for nearly $80,000 at auction.

A rare 1990 Dragon Ball Z and McLaren flag, featuring artwork and a signature by Toriyama, was auctioned off by F1 Authentics during their 2026 Season Launch Auction.

Dragon Ball flag blends anime and F1 history

The flag, which fetched about $76,000 (£60,000), was originally a gift to Ekrem Sami, who used to lead marketing at McLaren. It’s thought to be one of very few still around.

For this special collaboration, Toriyama drew new artwork showing iconic Dragon Ball characters like Goku, Bulma, Master Roshi, Kid Goku, and Krillin with the McLaren-Honda MP4/5B race car, famously driven by Gerhard Berger.

The flag was designed by Akira Toriyama in 1990.

The design features the logo of Weekly Shonen Jump, a popular and long-running manga magazine. It also includes Japanese characters that say “Jump” and “certain victory.”

As a huge fan, it’s amazing to see this piece – it’s been incredibly well-preserved for over thirty years! What makes it so special is how it perfectly blends the worlds of Formula 1 racing and Japanese manga. It’s a unique collaboration, bringing together one of the most legendary F1 teams with a truly groundbreaking anime creator. It’s a rare find, and a real testament to both worlds!

The auction included several impressive items, such as a race suit worn by Lewis Hamilton in 2011, which sold for £49,500 (about $65,800). A suit used by Michael Schumacher in 2010 during a Mercedes race went for £15,500 ($20,000).

Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, sadly passed away in 2024, but his incredible franchise lives on in anime, manga, games, and more. The anime series, Dragon Ball Super, is planned to return after a break, with a new story arc based on ideas and character designs created by Toriyama before his death.

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2026-04-04 13:18