Qualifying
McLaren were finishing their season on a low note. Often they had struggled to match the pace of Ferrari and Williams. Qualifying was no different with David down in 7th place on the grid with two Ferrari, two Williams and even a Benetton ahead of him.
Race
David would have an unspectacular race. However, he finished on the podium on 3rd spot. A lot of this was down to Mika Hakkinen slowing and letting him past. Hakkinen keen not to face the press after his last race before taking a year off from the sport. It was good for David to be on the podium in his last race, but McLaren know they have a lot of work to do if they are to get their competitive edge back next season.
Finished 3rd
Qualifying
It was a similar story for DC to Monza. The Ferrari and BMW engines were proving to be more than a match for the Mercedes. However, Mika Hakkinen had found a good set up and was able to claim 2nd spot. Unfortunately for DC he couldn't get the balance he wanted and had the settle for a disappointing 7th on the grid, with Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher both ahead of him on the grid.
Race
David Coulthard looked like he would have another lacklustre race. He didn't have the best of starts and found himself with two Williams and two Ferrari's ahead of him and apparently not able to do anything about them. However, the race swang back in favour of McLaren when Ralf Schumacher took and early stop. Ralf Schumacher retired, followed quickly by Montoya. Leaving just two Ferraris and his team mate Mika Hakkinen ahead of him. Barrichello would retire in the final stages, leaving DC to take a useful 3rd spot on the podium and some very useful points for 2nd place in the championship.
Finished 3rd
Qualifying
David Coulthard didn't have the best of qualifying sessions. At the high power Monza circuit, the Mercedes engine was having trouble keeping up with the likes of BMW and Ferrari. So DC ended up starting 6th with even Jordan's Jarno Trulli ahead of him.
Race
David's Italian GP would prove to be short lived he was pushing to keep up with the Williams and Ferrari's but his engine would fail on lap 9 in spectacular fashion. Once again there were no points for DC and Barrichello's 2nd place has closed the gap to David for 2nd spot in the championship.
Retired
Qualifying
The qualifying session for the Belgium started wet and continued to dry through the session. On his last run DC was out on intermediate tyres, a choice that would prove to be the wrong one. David found himself down the grid in 9th place.
Race
The race was started 3 times. Each time David found himself making a place up the grid. When the race finally got underway for the 3rd time DC found himself in 4th place behind Barrichello. David couldn't get by until the pit stops, the McLaren crew making a good one and allowing David to get into 3rd. David stayed in 3rd for most of the race, closely following Fisichella who was in an excellent 2nd spot. It wasn't until the closing stages where Fisichella's rhythm was upset by a back marker and David was able to get by to take 2nd on the podium. It was a good result for DC who pulls further away in the battle for 2nd in the championship.
Finsihed 2nd.
Qualifying
Hungary would provide Coulthard last ditch effort to keep any chance of the championship alive. He had to finish 3 points ahead of Michael Schumacher or the German would be champ. So pole position would have come in handy. Unfortunately it wouldn't prove to be the case. He would start in 2nd spot after Schumacher dominated the session.
Race
David Coulthard didn't make a great start and Rubens Barrichello got past. DC's worst scenario. It would be down to the pit stops. At the first stop David was able to retake 2nd from Barrichello and he was able to set about catching Schumacher. However, the German had it in hand and upped the pace. At the 2nd stops DC had a poor one when the fuel filler wouldn't release. This caused Barrichello to retake 2nd. There was nothing David could do and he had to settle for 3rd. The Championship was handed to Michael Schumacher. Better luck next year DC!
Finished 3rd
Qualifying
David Coulthard hopes for the championship were slipping away and nothing short of pole position would have been good enough. Unfortunately for David his McLaren was handling poorly and was suffering oversteer problems on the low downforce circuit.
Race
When Michael Schumacher retired on the first start of the race causing a big accident with Burti, David must have been thinking now's my chance. However, the race was restarted and Michael Schumacher was able to take to the spare car. David Coulthard made a good start but couldn't push very hard due to the oversteer problem. The tyres were going off and David couldn't pressure the front running Williams. When David came in for his first stop things were looking up with Michael Schumacher once again out of the race. However, the car overheated during the stop and David retired with engine problems just after leaving the pits. David's championship bid is now virtually over.
Retired
Qualifying
Silverstone was 'do or die' for David Coulthard, his championship was at stake. The qualifying session was really exciting and the amazing pace of the top 3 was really outstanding. However, it was Schumacher and Hakkinen who were able to hook it up and claim the front row. Hakkinen would start ahead of DC but would help DC in the race if the opportunity arose.
Race
Well despite a cheering home crowd, the race would be particularly disappointing for David. He got off the grid but hadn't made the best of starts and a charging Jarno Trulli came alongside at the first bend. DC turned in but there was no room and the two cars hit each other. Fortunately David was able to continue but he had sustained suspension damage and the car broke away from him on the 4th lap. His championship looking bad as he sat in the gravel trap.
Retired
Qualifying
David Coulthard really needed a good result from qualifying. However, once again the McLaren was looking in poor shape compared to the Ferrari and Williams. David had a brilliant last run and managed to pinch 3rd spot. A reasonable postion to challenge for the lead.
Race
David Coulthard made a good start and was able to keep 3rd spot. However, the two Schumacher brothers were able to pull away. David was on a higher fuel load though. However, it would be the pit stop that would ultimately become David's downfall. When he came to make his first stop, he was given a stop-go penalty for speeding in the pit lane. He had to come in, if it hadn't been for that David would have probably finished in 2nd place with a good strategy. David sees the championship gap widening to Michael Schumacher, who won the race. David will be hoping to make it 3 wins in a row at Silverstone in 2 weeks time.
Finished 4th
Qualifying
David Coulthard needs to hit back after retiring from the Canadian GP, a good qualifying session was essential. Unfortunately the Williams were looking better than McLaren and David had to settle for 5th position, behind two McLarens and two Ferraris.
Race
After the poor qualifying session David Coulthard would have been hoping to make some places up during the race. The McLaren team opted for a 1 stop strategy. This looked to be a poor decision but when Ralf Schumacher was given a penalty David found himself looking good for a podium finish. It was a good save for David but he sees the championship gap extending with Michael Schumacher taking another win.
Finished 3rd
Qualifying
David Coulthard came to Canada praying for a trouble free race weekend. Qualifying didn't go according to plan as David struggled to get the most out of the car. The session was stopped twice and in the last few minutes David was able to put the McLaren 3rd on the grid. Now all that mattered was the start and a working launch control system
Race
At the start it wasn't the launch control that was a problem, but a loose nut in the cockpit. David was able to throw this overboard and he made a good start to take up position in 3rd place. However, he was dropping back from the Schumacher brothers. He was able to close when the pace car came out after Montoya and Barrichella had crashed out, but soon dropped back again at the restart. Later David's Mercedes let go and he was out.
Retired
Qualifying
After a brilliant win in Austria, David came to Monaco with hopes of once again closing the gap in the championship to Michael Schumacher. And what an excellent start he had with a brilliant pole position. The best place to be with overtaking during the race pretty much impossible as he was to find out.
Race
David had the worst possible start to the race when he stalled the car at the start of the parade lap. He would have to start the race at the back of the field with all the hard work on Saturday put to waste. David found it very difficult to make many places and when he found himself behind the Arrows of Bernoldi, he had to stay there for nearly 40 laps, losing 3 seconds a lap to Michael Schumacher. However, after the pit stops David was able to fly and he eventually managed to make it back up to 5th and claim 2 world championship points. However, it was a disappointing race for the Scotsman.
Finsihed 5th
Qualifying
The Austrian qualifying session was a bit of a strange one for the McLaren team. David Coulthard had been the fastest man on the circuit in the morning's practice sessions, but when it came to the crucial qualifying session the team were mysteriously off the pace. David Coulthard only qualified in 7th place and it is thought that the strong wind may have been the cause of a loss of balance in the car.
Race
David Coulthard had a lot to do after the poor qualifying session, however he made a good start, unlike his team mate, who stalled on the grid. David was up to 5th place. There was a titanic battle with Montoya and Michael Schumacher up at the front and this was to play into David's hands. Montoya overcooked his brakes and Michael Schumacher had to take avoiding action. This dropped Schumacher behind David Coulthard. As the pit stops came around David had managed to save some fuel and was able to put in some very quick laps. He came out of his pit stop in the lead. He stayed in the lead despite constant pressure from the two Ferrari, to win in great style.
Finished 1st
Qualifying
David Coulthard came to the Spanish GP with a joint lead of the championship with Michael Schumacher. The McLaren was looking good for a great qualifying position when Coulthard was fastest on Friday. However, things didn't quite work out for David in qualifying where he was 3rd after being pipped by a charging Mika Hakkinen. Nevertheless, 3rd was a good place to start for the race.
Race
The race start effectively ruined David's chances. David stalled the McLaren at the start of the parade lap and was forced to take up grid position at the back of the field. To make matters worse David was pushed from behind which caused him to hit the car infront and damaged his front wing. A further pit stop for a new front wing dropped David to the back of the field. However, David drove brilliantly through the field, making a great move on Heidfeld's Sauber to get him back into the points. He was handed an additional point when Mika Hakkinen dramatically retired on the last lap.
Finished 5th
Qualifying
David Coulthard's race chances got off to the perfect start when David unexpectedly claimed pole position. At the end of his flying lap David, radioed the team to say that he didn't expect pole with his laptime, however, Mika Hakkinen and Ralf Schumacher were unable to beat David's time as the session ended. A great start.
Race
It would be the start that would ultimately determine the outcome of the race. David got a little wheelspin as the lights went out and the Williams of Ralf Schumacher was able to get past for the lead. Amazingly there appeared to little David could do to get back on terms with the Williams. Ralf Schumacher drove a brilliant race leading from start to finish, and David Coulthard, despite his best efforts, had to make do with 2nd place. David's 2nd place was good enough to take a joint share of the lead for the world championship with Michael Schumacher.
Finished 2nd
Qualifying
Come the qualifying session for Brazil it was becoming clear that the McLaren was no longer the class of the field and were struggling to match even the Williams pace, let alone Ferrari. Qualifying ended and David once again found himself down the grid in 5th place behind both Williams and his team mate.
Race
The race provided a whole different story. Mika Hakkinen stalled his car during the 5 second countdown and the following drivers were lucky to avoid the stricken McLaren. The safety car was deployed to clear Hakkinen's car and David found himself in 3rd spot. At the restart Montoya took Michael Schumacher for the lead and succeeded. However, Montoya was taken out by Verstappen. Schumacher pitted and was clearly on a 2 stopper. Coulthard was in the lead but when rain hit the circuit, Schumacher was able to retake the lead. However, Schumacher had a quick off which allowed David to close right up. Amazingly in the tricky conditions Schumacher was struggling and on lap 49 David was able to overtake the Ferrari. David stayed in front and took a brilliant win to become a serious championship contender.
Finished 1st. Yeah!
Qualifying
With a good result behind him in Melbourne, David came to Malaysia looking to continue his championship bid. However, this year's McLaren doesn't seem as good as it should be and both drivers had been stuggling to find a good setup. David was trying too hard during qualifying and on his best laps ended up taking to the grass, he found himself down the grid in 8th place. Not where you expect a McLaren to be!
Race
The race start was sensational from the Scot. He was up to 4th place after the first few hundred metres. When the rain came on after only 2 laps, David was able to keep his head and he found himself in 2nd place behind Trulli at the end of lap 3. However, when he pitted for wet tyres the team put full-wets on his McLaren, whereas Ferrari opted for Intermediates. It later transpired that intermediates were the way to go, and both Ferrari's were able to take the stuggling McLaren and demoted David down to 3rd where he finished.
Finished 3rd
Qualifying
David Coulthard starts the 2001 season knowing that he'll have to perform well to be in with a championship chance. It looked good for David after the morning practice session prior to qualifying when he set the fastest time. However, when it really mattered David couldn't hook up a good lap and ended up a disappointing 6th on the grid.
Race
David's race had an interesting start when he was badly squeezed by Frentzen and Ralf Schumacher almost being put out of the race when all three cars touched. David dropped a place to 7th but was able to outbrake both Frentzen and Schumacher and when the safety car was put out on lap 5 following Villeneuve's horrendous accident, David was up to 5th. Hakkinen later crashed and David was promoted to 3rd behind Barrichello. David was putting severe pressure on the Ferrari and on lap 32 was able to get past after Barrichello suffered with the backmarker of Alonso. David drove consistently from then on and was able to finish 2nd. It was a great result for the Scot, but the drive was marred by the tragic death of the marshall killed by Villeneuve's loose tyre
Finsihed 2nd.
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Design & Coding Mark Durham
© 2003