To celebrate the 52nd birthday of former Formula 1 hero David Coulthard this week, LWOS takes look at the Scotsman’s greatest victories.
This week sees former Formula 1 stalwart David Coulthard turn 52 years old. A driver for fourteen years and a TV analyst also for fourteen years, Coulthard has always been a popular presence within the sport. Though considered by many as a ‘nearly man’ due to never winning the World Championship, the Scotsman was a talented driver who, on his day, could be the fastest around, and amassed 13 wins, 62 podiums, and 12 pole positions. Since his retirement from racing in 2008, Coulthard has become omnipresent on television for the BBC and Channel 4, as well as becoming a successful businessman and ambassador for Red Bull.
5 – The first win
After a number of successful drives with Williams – for whom he was a Test Driver – after the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994, Coulthard secured a full-time drive for ’95 alongside Damon Hill. Though partly remembered for some embarrassing incidents – such as spinning on the formation lap of the Italian Grand Prix, for which he was on pole, and crashing into the pitlane in Adelaide – Coulthard finished 3rd in the Drivers’ standings with eight podium finishes, including a commanding first win in Portugal. After securing pole by over three-tenths of a second, Coulthard would go on take the chequered flag by seven seconds from Michael Schumacher and Hill.
4 – Podium heroics after air crash ordeal
Five days before the 2000 Spanish Grand Prix, Coulthard was lucky to walk away from a plane crash in France. After the Learjet he was leasing developed a problem with its engine, the plane’s two pilots attempted an emergency landing in Lyon, killing both men. Coulthard, his then-fiancee, and personal trainer all survived, and despite cracking three ribs in the impact, Coulthard still managed to qualify 4th for the race and finish an impressive 2nd.
3 – Best of British
Coulthard fulfilled an ambition of every Formula 1 driver – winning their home race. This was an achievement he managed two years running, capitalizing on team-mate Mika Hakkinen’s misfortune and Michael Schumacher’s leg-breaking crash at Silverstone in 1999, and then keeping his head the very next year to take victory on the same circuit.
2 – Prince of Monaco
Another ambition for many drivers is to conquer the streets of Monaco, which Coulthard again managed twice. In 2000, he would win from 3rd on the grid, capitalizing on Michael Schumacher’s broken suspension. And in 2002, he would take the lead from 2nd at the start, and would not relinquish his advantage, holding off a charging Schumacher late on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfa1THUPDtk
1 – From road rage to glory
2000 was a near miss for Coulthard, whose form in the middle of the season set him up for a title charge which did not materialize. As well as his wins in Britain and Monaco, his third and final victory of the year would come in France. Many have stated this was the best win of Coulthard’s career, having earned the result after an entertaining and breathtaking duel with Schumacher for the win. After a brave overtaking maneuver on Rubens Barrichello’s Ferrari at the Adelaide hairpin on lap 22, he attempted to pass Schumacher at the same spot on lap 34, who blocked the move. Enraged, Coulthard infamously produced two questionable hand gestures at Schumacher but kept his cool to complete the move on lap 40. Coulthard stayed in the lead until the end, winning by 14 seconds from team-mate Mika Hakkinen.
Other honorable mentions…
After his final race in 2008, David Coulthard was immediately hired by the BBC as an analyst for their coverage of F1 in 2009 and would stay with the corporation until moving – along with the TV rights – to Channel 4 in 2016, where he remains currently. Known for his insight, knowledge, and humor, Coulthard is a natural broadcaster and has often been known to poke fun at a few very familiar faces, notably when pop star Christina Aguilera made an appearance at the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
