In 2005 David was dropped by McLaren and moved to drive for Red Bull, a new team which was then powered by Cosworth engines. This year, Red Bull switched to Ferrari power.
Prior to Red Bull, Scot David Coulthard drove for the McLaren Mercedes-Benz team for many years. He is one of the fastest Formula 1 drivers and held a position of equal standing with younger team mate Kimi Raikkonen at McLaren. That meant that unlike other teams there were no team orders and both fought for the championship on an equal basis. David is a many times over race winner and often used to qualify on the front row of the grid. During the 2003 season however, the new one-lap qualifying format that was introduced, did not suit him and his qualifying positions started to drop down the grid.
During the 1998 and 1999 seasons David's former team mate Mika Hakkinen won two world championships. This was due in part to the phenomenally quick McLaren car, for which McLaren Technical Director Adrian Newey was and still is responsible.
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Monaco 2001 - Coulthard vs Bernoldi
Enrique Bernoldi, the Arrows rookie driver who held DC up for around 40 laps at Monte Carlo, was apparently "very scared" after an alleged post race confrontation with Ron Dennis and Norbert Haug of McLaren-Mercedes.
According to Autosport, he said that they were both very aggressive and that "They told me, 'if you continue drive again in that sort of way you are not going to be in Formula 1 very long’. I was very scared because they were very aggressive."
“I don’t think I was unfair to him [DC]. I am on the track to race and to improve myself so one day I will be in his position. It was not easy to drive with him behind. There was so much pressure so I was worried about making mistakes. I was thinking, because he was so close to me, if I hit the wall he would hit me too. "
Ron Dennis denied the claims, saying: "It was quite a while after the race and I was cool, calm and collected and I was not angry. I have no influence over his career at all. I just told him that in my opinion it was unsporting behaviour.”
Monaco is known as a hard track to pass on and these events proved it, unfortunately for David to the detriment of needed championship points.
Recontracted to McLaren in 2001
The McLaren driver line up remained static for another year, with Hakkinen and Coulthard. It seemed that any doubts over David's position at the team were quashed by his superlative performance in 2000.
The rumour had set to work amid speculation over David's contract position for 2001 earlier in 2000. His contract with McLaren was set to end after the season, but the team had an option to extend it for another year. Jacques Villeneuve stated that the team had talked with him over his contractual situation. There was talk of a possible swap between DC and the 1997 World Champion, who at that time drove for the BAR team.
The Jordan, Benetton and Jaguar teams were also believed to have shown interest in David for 2001.
Schuey style start by DC in Germany 2000!
If you can't beat 'em, try doing so by joining them! Over the months David was joined by Villeneuve and Irvine, in complaining over tactics where Michael Schumacher cut across to block another driver overaking him off the start line.
As of Germany 2000 however, it seemed there could be no more complaining, as DC pulled the same type of start himself. Off the start line David swerved across the bows of Michael Schumacher's Ferrari, causing him to take avoiding action. Schumacher shortly after ended up in a tyre wall (but was unwilling to attribute blame to DC in a later interview).
In the post race press conference the interviewer asked David if the move was "revenge", to which David stated "no". He clearly decided to be follow Schumacher's lead as far as driving standards at the start line go, whether you view them as good or bad.
David won the Monaco GP in 2000
David finished ahead of world champion Mika Hakkinen (6th) to claim his first win in the principality. Rubens Barrichello finished 2nd ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella (3rd). Michael Schumacher retired with broken suspension when leading by a significant margin.
This win put David second to Schumacher in the Driver's championship, but ahead of team mate Hakkinen.
Escaped from plane crash unhurt
DC and American girlfriend Heidi Wichlinski escaped on Tuesday 2nd May 2000 from an aeroplane crash in France. The pilot and co-pilot were both killed and the plane burst into flames. They had been travelling to Nice airport from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK in a chartered Lear Jet when the plane encountered engine trouble. The emergency landing was taken at Lyon-Satolas airport in France. David's personal fitness trainer also escaped unhurt through the emergency exit.
David said in a statement, "I am very relieved that Heidi, Andy and myself are unhurt but I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the families of the two pilots. We were very lucky to walk away."
DC returned to his apartment in Monte Carlo.
David won the British GP in 2000
David finished ahead of double world champions Mika Hakkinen (2nd) and Michael Schumacher (3rd) to win at Silverstone. That put David ahead of team mate and world champion Mika Hakkinen in the Driver's Championship. He was then running second only to Schumacher.
After qualifying 4th on the grid behind Barrichello, Frentzen and Hakkinen, David passed his team-mate off the start line and retained this position throughout the race.
Official DC Fan Club
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