Kimi Räikkönen's Debut McLaren, Car of David Coulthard's Final Win, Up for Auction
A McLaren MP4-17, driven by Kimi Räikkönen in his rookie season and by David Coulthard to his final F1 win, is up for auction with no reserve price.
A significant piece of Formula 1 history, the McLaren MP4-17A driven by Kimi Räikkönen during his debut season and by David Coulthard to his final Grand Prix victory, is now available to the highest bidder. The chassis, numbered MP4-17A-06, is being sold by RM Sotheby's without a reserve price, guaranteeing a sale regardless of the final amount.
Why it matters:
This car bridges two significant eras for McLaren and F1. It marks the culmination of David Coulthard's successful career with his 13th and final win, while also being the machine that launched Kimi Räikkönen's legendary 'Iceman' status in his rookie year. For collectors, owning a car with such a unique dual legacy, designed by Adrian Newey, is a rare opportunity to possess a tangible link between two generations of F1 greats.
The details:
- Chassis History: Car 'MP4-17A-06' was raced by both Räikkönen and Coulthard across the 2002 and 2003 seasons, with Räikkönen the first to pilot it.
- Final Victory: Its most notable achievement was delivering David Coulthard's final F1 win at the 2003 Australian Grand Prix, where he finished nearly nine seconds ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya.
- Design & Power: The car is an Adrian Newey design, featuring a 3.0-liter Mercedes-Benz V10 engine and was an evolution of the previous year's challenger with updated bodywork.
- Unexpected Return: The MP4-17 was brought back for the 2003 season after its intended replacement, the radical MP4-18, proved unreliable and never raced, forcing the team to rely on the older, proven chassis.
Looking Ahead:
The 'no reserve' status of the auction means this historic machine will find a new owner, making it a highly anticipated event for collectors and F1 enthusiasts. Given its provenance and the recent record-breaking sales of historic F1 cars, the final price could be substantial. The new owner will not just acquire a race car, but a tangible piece of motorsport history that marks the end of one champion's winning days and the beginning of another's.