McLaren Star®
International
Presents:
"The Magic About David Coulthard"
I have seen every single one of David Coulthards races, I
therefore feel I can give my views on David knowing what I am talking about!
Firstly, I have to say I feel David is one of the un-luckiest F1 Drivers
EVER, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998 and 1999 have all been seasons full of Mechanical
Gremlins for David, and 1996 is the only season where I feel he made more
mistakes that ended his races then mechanical gremlins. He has made mistakes
lets not forget that, but then so has Michael Schumacher...who few feel
is the best driver out there, I however don't agree. Try to think back
to when you saw David have a big Crash all of his own making...hard isn't
it! I can only remember Belgium 1998. I feel David has improved each season
since 1994 - Please remember he hasn't been around as long as Michael,
Mika or indeed Eddie Irvine. He is still a very young chappy, with what
I feel is a Great future ahead of him. He has been in one of the best cars
each year, apart from 1996,when he was in the Mclaren which was, quite
simply, a heap of Poo... The Williams was a very good car in 1994, but
I don't feel it was as good as the Benetton, yet David still showed
what he was made of. 1995 saw Davids first full season in F1, yet he didn't
really produce the goods. This was down to many things, such as Mechanical
gremlins, however - David did make mistakes, some were simply silly. Who
will forget, Monza - David was in Pole position leading the cars round
on the parade lap, when he simply lost it. He was out on the spot before
the race has even started, or what about the Australian GP the same year.
David comes in for his pitstop, yet he didn't make it out - he crashed
in the Pit lane! Into the wall, silly errors, but it was Davids first season
in F1.
He then moved from Williams to McLaren, "I will make
them Winners" he said, at first this didn't seem to be true, but come 1997,
he delivered. 1996 was Davids worst season in F1, yet he still managed
to lead races when he simply shouldn't have, Read San Marino, or Belgium...If
my memory serves me correctly!1997 started with David winner McLarens first
race since the Mighty Ayrton Senna in 1993, he then won again at Monza,
and there were many other races he could, and should, have won - but for
them mechanical gremlins to hit him. He did however finish the season in
a fine 3rd place, ahead of his team-mate Mika Hakkien, something we don't
see too often now... 1998 was full of so much promise for David, the car
was stunning and all he had to do was beat his team mate...yet it simply
didn't happen! Why? Firstly, he let his team mate win the first race...it
was there for David but he gave it to Mika because of an Pre-arrangment...this,
in my view, gave the Season to Mika. David won only one race, in a season
he should have shown his true class - Oh well, Guess it will have to be
Next year then?
NO, 1999 turned out to be yet another retirement fulled
F1 season...the season started with a string of DNF's, and yet David kept
at it. At Silverstone, everyone was saying "He's had it, He's No good'...but
he took the Victory to put himself right back in the championship battle!
David then went to Austria and collided with his team mate, remember 1996...Mika
took David out in Portugal, what goes around comes around Mika!!! However,
he didn't go on to win the race, as Eddie some how beat him, but in Belgium
he took the Victory.
© 2000 - Kevin Preston - All Rights Reserved.