A real McLaren Formula 1 racing car is up for auction this month as part of the RM Sotheby’s St. Moritz 2021 event.
The McLaren-Mercedes MP4-17 was used by Kimi Räikkönen and David Coulthard in 2002 and 2003. He scored a race win and several podiums on the track.
With the news that Raikkonen will be stepping down from Formula 1 at the end of this season, this could be a chance to collect a memento of the Finnish driver.
Great expectations
After finishing second in the 2001 Formula 1 World Championship, McLaren had high hopes for the 2002 season.
The MP4-17 was sculpted in McLaren’s new wind tunnel under the supervision of legendary designer Adrian Newey.
The MP4-17 is powered by a version of the Mercedes-Benz FO110M V10 engine developed by Ilmor. The 3.0-liter naturally aspirated engine developed an impressive 845 hp and was connected to McLaren’s own sequential seven-speed gearbox.
Consistently premium components
Other key elements were the double wishbone front and rear suspension with dampers that were developed with Penske. A combination of Hitco brake discs and AP Racing brake calipers provided the braking power.
The MP4-17 dates from an era when Formula 1 was embroiled in a tire war and wore Michelin rubber.
The finishing touches were the West McLaren Mercedes paint scheme introduced by the team in 1997. This created the prerequisites for a successful 2002 season.
Swept under a red wave
In pre-season testing in Barcelona, the McLaren MP4-17 gave the team further hope. David Coulthard managed to set record times with the new car and to raise expectations before the season opener in Australia.
However, the reality of the 2002 F1 season would be less successful. A dominant combination of Michael Schumacher and Ferrari won the win while other teams were nowhere near able to challenge them.
McLaren’s highlights would be David Coulthard’s win at the Monaco Blue Ribbon Grand Prix. A series of podium places would help the team to third place in the constructors’ championship.
A more successful second season
The car up for auction drove seven times in the 2002 season. Second place for Kimi Raikkonen at the French Grand Prix would be the best result for the MP4-17-06 chassis.
After abandoning the radical MP4-18 for the 2003 season, McLaren upgraded its 2002 car to the MP4-17D specification.
These upgrades made the car more successful and brought David Coulthard to victory in the 2003 Australian Grand Prix. That means whoever buys this car secures a winning Formula 1 machine.
Prepare your Swiss bank account
After the last use of the car at the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix, where it took second place, the MP4-17-06 chassis is back to what it looked like in 2002.
In contrast to the various show cars and exhibition models that are coming onto the market, it is a Formula 1 car that celebrated real success on the track.
The McLaren MP4 is due to cross the auction block in St. Moritz on September 17th. Buying a piece of history won’t come cheap, with a presale estimate of CHF 2,000,000 to 2,500,000 (1,500,000 to £ 1,900,000).
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The post You could buy this ex-Raikkonen McLaren MP4-17 Formula 1 car first appeared on monter-une-startup.
