Celebrate Kimi Räikkönen’s F1 retirement by buying his old McLaren

Distraught at the news that Kimi Räikkönen will retire from Formula One at the end of this season? How about consoling yourself by buying one of his V10-engined McLarens from the 2002 and 2003 seasons? That should do the trick.

This particular chassis (MP4-17A-06) began its life as a West McLaren Mercedes-liveried MP4-17 designed by Adrian Newey and a number of other big names in the F1 paddock. It raced seven times in the 2002 season, with Kimi finishing third at the Grand Prix of Europe at the Nürburgring on its first outing.

The 845bhp V10 was designed by Ilmore Engineering, but it retired at 06’s next race – the British Grand Prix. Kimi then gave McLaren its best result of the season, finishing second in this car at the Grand Prix de France.

Two more DNFs and a fourth place finish would follow for Kimi in chassis 06 in 2002, with David Coulthard also driving it to third at the United States Grand Prix.

When it crosses the block at the upcoming RM Sotheby’s St. Moritz sale it’ll be in that 2002 MP4-17 trim, but this particular car was actually upgraded to 2003’s MP4-17D spec and it raced a further five times that season. Coulthard even managed a win in it at the Australian Grand Prix.

What a glorious thing this would be to own. The only stumbling block? The estimate is somewhere between £1.5m and £2m. Yikes… 

Images: RM Sotheby's