McLaren MP4-17

McLaren MP4-17

Category	Formula One
Constructor	McLaren
Designer(s)	Adrian Newey
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon-fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)	double wishbone, inboard torsion bar/damper system, pushrod and bell crank-activated
Suspension (rear)	double wishbone, inboard torsion bar/damper system, pushrod and bell crank-activated
Engine	Mercedes-Benz FO110M V10 (72°) naturally aspirated
Transmission	McLaren longitudinal semi-automatic sequential
Fuel	Mobil 1
Tyres	Michelin
Competition history
Notable entrants	West McLaren Mercedes
Notable drivers	3. David Coulthard 4. Kimi Räikkönen
Debut	2002 Australian Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles Fastest laps 33 3 2 5
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

Räikkönen driving the MP4-17D

The McLaren MP4-17 was the car with which the McLaren team competed in the 2002 and 2003 Formula One seasons. It was driven by David Coulthard and Kimi Räikkönen in both seasons.

The team did not perform as well as expected to in 2002, in a season dominated by Ferrari, and due to the unreliability of the car; they eventually finished third in the constructors championship with 65 points and one victory, in Monaco.

Using a development version of the car, the MP4-17D, the 2003 season started very promisingly with wins at the two first grands prix of the year, one each for Coulthard and Räikkönen. However, rival teams soon caught up as McLaren was sidetracked by the development of the McLaren MP4-18, a radical new design which due to reliability problems never raced in anger. As a result, the team gradually fell slightly further back as the season progressed, allowing rivals able to develop their newer cars more quickly. However, despite this setback, Räikkönen finished in the points consistently and challenged Michael Schumacher for the championship all the way up to the very last race, eventually losing the title by only 2 points. The team again finished third in the constructors championship and had 142 points and two victories – just two points behind Williams F1.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position, results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Points	WCC
2002	MP4-17	Mercedes FO110M 3.0 V10	M		AUS	MAL	BRA	SMR	ESP	AUT	MON	CAN	EUR	GBR	FRA	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	USA	JPN	65	3rd
				David Coulthard	Ret	Ret	3	6	3	6	1	2	Ret	10	3	5	5	4	7	3	Ret
				Kimi Räikkönen	3	Ret	12	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	4	3	Ret	2	Ret	4	Ret	Ret	Ret	3
2003	MP4-17D	Mercedes FO110M 3.0 V10 Mercedes FO110P 3.0 V10	M		AUS	MAL	BRA	SMR	ESP	AUT	MON	CAN	EUR	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	ITA	USA	JPN		142	3rd
				David Coulthard	1	Ret	4	5	Ret	5	7	Ret	15	5	5	2	5	Ret	Ret	3
				Kimi Räikkönen	3	1	2	2	Ret	2	2	6	Ret	4	3	Ret	2	4	2	2