Kimi Räikönen’s V10-engined McLaren (MP4-17) from the 2002/2003 FL season is up for auction at an estimated £1.5-2 million.
Designed by Adrian Newey, the MP4-17 raced seven times in the 2002 season with Räikkönen finishing third in the Grand Prix of Europe at Nürburgring on its first outing.
Being from what some consider the “golden era of F1 sounds”, this MP4-17 is powered by a 3.0-liter Mercedes-Benz-supplied FO110M V10 engine making 845 horsepower and capable of revving to a staggering 18,500 rpm.
The 845bhp V10 was designed by Ilmore Engineering but retired at the 2006’s British Grand Prix. Räikkönen then finished second in the Grand Prix de France, giving McLaren its best result of the season.
This car and Räikkönen had two more DNFs (Did Not Finish) and a fourth-place finish for Räikkönen’s in 2002. David Coulthard also had a go with this car, driving it to third place in the United States Grand Prix. In 2003, the car was upgraded to the MP4-17D spec, and raced five times that season — Coulthard even managed a first-place in it at the Australian Grand Prix. At the upcoming September 17 RM Sotheby’s St. Moritz sale in Switzerland, the car will be refitted to the 2002 MP4-17 trim.
Räikkönen is set to retire at the end of 2021, leaving behind a legacy of a championship, 21 wins, and over 100 podium finishes.
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