Open to Helping Verstrappen and Sainz if Asked: David Coulthard
Highlights
F1 drivers - how little we know about them! But we had the chance to speak to one who was mentored by the legendary Ayrton Senna. In fact, he even gave Michael Schumacher a tough time for the driver's championship in 2001! And if you mention 'chin' in the F1 world, there's only one person that comes to mind - David Coulthard.
Coulthard, who hails from Scotland, saw several ups and downs throughout his about 15-year long career, however, his biggest break came in the form of his F1 debut. He got a seat in the Williams team in 1994 after Senna's death at Imola. And soon enough he was fighting for a podium finish against the likes of Michael Schumacher and Mika Haikkenen. Unfortunately, he never managed to win a single championship; but he does have 13 race wins and 62 podium finishes to his name.
He ended his career in Red Bull Racing in 2008, and has donned several hats since. As a consultant, and even a mentor, for the likes of Vettel, who, he says, questions him many a times about the circuit he knows so well - Monaco. When asked if the current Toro Rosso drivers take any tips from him, he said that he hasn't been approached yet, but he is open to that prospect.
Talking about young drivers, he was all praise for Vettel's impressive run at the Malaysian Grand Prix. He even wrote about how it was good to see a German behind the wheel of a Ferrari that was winning. He said, "People knew he had the talent and they often said that anyone could win in a fast car, but at the Malaysian Grand Prix he showed everyone what an amazing driver he was."
Besides F1, Coulthard has two Guinness World Records to his name. One is for catching a golf ball in an open top car and the other is for doughnuts in the F1 car on the Burj Al Arab's helipad - which was primarily a celebration of Red Bull Racing's fourth consecutive constructors championship title. When asked about what he feels about F1 returning to India, he said that even the drivers can't wait to come back, but a lot of things need to be sorted out before the sport returns here.
Last Updated on April 7, 2015