Neil 01
1997 McLaren-Mercedes MP4/12
Pictured is a 1997 McLaren-Mercedes MP4/12 Grand Prix Car.
It was driven in 1997 by double Formula 1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard.
After losing their Marlboro sponsorship to Ferrari at the end of 1996, the iconic red and white livery that was synonymous with McLaren was replaced with a new silver and black livery in deference to new title sponsor West and engine supplier Mercedes, a nod to the age of the 'Silver Arrows'.
As the new car was due to be tested before the official 1997 livery launch, McLaren painted the new car in traditional McLaren orange, a colour scheme not seen since 1971.
The car was later presented in it's definitive 1997 silver livery in a lavish unveiling at Alexandra Palace in London.
After three winless seasons for McLaren the new livery seemed to bring a change of luck. David Coulthard took victory in the opening race of the season in Australia with Mika Hakkinen finishing in third position.
However, this would prove to be a false dawn for the year ahead. The majority of the season was dominated by Williams and Ferrari with Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher duelling for the championship.
Coulthard finished tenth in Brazil and then suffered three successive retirements before finishing sixth in Spain. There was a second victory for the Scotsman in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and two runner-up positions in Austria and the final round at Jerez.
Hakkinen would score points on five more occasions before the final race of the season. The Finn retired whilst leading both the British and Luxembourg Grands Prix but made amends in the season-closing European Grand Prix by leading home Coulthard to take his maiden Grand Prix win. It was also the first McLaren 1-2 since the 1991 Japanese Grand Prix.
The drivers would end the season third (Coulthard) and sixth (Hakkinen) in the drivers championship with McLaren as fourth best constructor.
Pictured in August 2013 at the Donington Grand Prix Collection, Donington Park.
1997 McLaren-Mercedes MP4/12
Pictured is a 1997 McLaren-Mercedes MP4/12 Grand Prix Car.
It was driven in 1997 by double Formula 1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard.
After losing their Marlboro sponsorship to Ferrari at the end of 1996, the iconic red and white livery that was synonymous with McLaren was replaced with a new silver and black livery in deference to new title sponsor West and engine supplier Mercedes, a nod to the age of the 'Silver Arrows'.
As the new car was due to be tested before the official 1997 livery launch, McLaren painted the new car in traditional McLaren orange, a colour scheme not seen since 1971.
The car was later presented in it's definitive 1997 silver livery in a lavish unveiling at Alexandra Palace in London.
After three winless seasons for McLaren the new livery seemed to bring a change of luck. David Coulthard took victory in the opening race of the season in Australia with Mika Hakkinen finishing in third position.
However, this would prove to be a false dawn for the year ahead. The majority of the season was dominated by Williams and Ferrari with Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher duelling for the championship.
Coulthard finished tenth in Brazil and then suffered three successive retirements before finishing sixth in Spain. There was a second victory for the Scotsman in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and two runner-up positions in Austria and the final round at Jerez.
Hakkinen would score points on five more occasions before the final race of the season. The Finn retired whilst leading both the British and Luxembourg Grands Prix but made amends in the season-closing European Grand Prix by leading home Coulthard to take his maiden Grand Prix win. It was also the first McLaren 1-2 since the 1991 Japanese Grand Prix.
The drivers would end the season third (Coulthard) and sixth (Hakkinen) in the drivers championship with McLaren as fourth best constructor.
Pictured in August 2013 at the Donington Grand Prix Collection, Donington Park.