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

Dragon Ball F1 flag by Akira Toriyama sells for nearly $80,000 in rare crossover auction sale

A rare Dragon Ball F1 flag illustrated by Akira Toriyama has sold for nearly $80,000 at auction, highlighting continued demand for unique crossover memorabilia between motorsport and anime.

The item, a 1990 Dragon Ball Z and McLaren promotional flag, was sold through F1 Authentics as part of its 2026 Season Launch Auction.

The piece achieved a final price of £60,000, approximately $76,000, reflecting its rarity and historical significance.

The flag was originally gifted to Ekrem Sami, McLaren’s former Head of Marketing, and is believed to be one of only a small number produced.

Toriyama created the artwork specifically for the collaboration, combining characters from the Dragon Ball universe with Formula 1 imagery.

The design features well-known characters, including Goku, Bulma, Master Roshi, Kid Goku and Krillin, alongside the McLaren-Honda MP4/5B. Gerhard Berger drove the car during the 1990 Formula 1 season.

The flag also includes the Weekly Shonen Jump logo and Japanese text reading “ジャンプ” and “必勝,” which translates to “certain victory.”

The sale underscores the appeal of crossover collectables that merge different cultural industries. In this case, the intersection of Formula 1 and Japanese manga has created a piece that resonates with collectors from both communities.

Other items were also sold during the auction. A Lewis Hamilton 2011 McLaren race suit reached £49,500, while a Michael Schumacher 2010 Mercedes race-issued suit sold for £15,500.

Although Toriyama died in 2024, his influence continues through the Dragon Ball franchise, which remains active across multiple forms of media.

A return of the Dragon Ball Super anime has been indicated, with new story elements and character designs based on Toriyama’s work.