F1 Legend Sim/Drivers/David Coulthard
David Coulthard in 2022

David Coulthard

Scottish · 1994–2008

Photo: Sven Mandel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

No world title

Coulthard in numbers

535 official points · best championship finish: 2nd in 2001

0Drivers’ titles

none

2Constructors’ titles

1994, 1998

24th of 789 all time

Races16th of 789 all time
246
Wins23rd of 789 all time

5.3% of races

13
Poles35th of 789 all time

4.9% of races

12
Podiums11th of 789 all time

25.2% of races

62

0Drivers’ titles

none

1Constructors’ titles

1994

of 2 in the career

Racesof 246 in the career
25
Winsof 13 in the career

4% of races with Williams

1
Polesof 12 in the career

20% of races with Williams

5
Podiumsof 62 in the career

36% of races with Williams

9

0Drivers’ titles

none

1Constructors’ titles

1998

of 2 in the career

Racesof 246 in the career
150
Winsof 13 in the career

8% of races with McLaren

12
Polesof 12 in the career

4.7% of races with McLaren

7
Podiumsof 62 in the career

34% of races with McLaren

51

0Drivers’ titles

none

0Constructors’ titles

none

Racesof 246 in the career
71
Winsof 13 in the career
0
Polesof 12 in the career
0
Podiumsof 62 in the career

2.8% of races with Red Bull

2

David Coulthard was for over a decade one of Formula 1's most recognisable faces and the best Scottish driver since Jackie Stewart. He debuted at Williams in 1994 in dramatic circumstances, replacing Ayrton Senna after his death, and took his first win with the team before moving to McLaren.

At Woking he spent nine seasons and became a pillar of the team during the Häkkinen era and its rivalry with Schumacher. He racked up thirteen wins, many at grand venues like Monaco, where he particularly shone. Fast and consistent, he often carried the number-two label despite performing at a high level.

He closed his career giving visibility to the young Red Bull project between 2005 and 2008. After retiring he found a second life as a commentator and ambassador for the sport, where his charisma and warmth have made him even more popular than in his driving days.

What if Coulthard had another car?

We took his real attributes and put him in the best car of each era: in a real driver's seat, against the team-mate that car actually had. 20 full seasons in each.

CarTeam-mateFinishWinsTitles
McLaren1988Alain Prost-87 ptsP22.30%
Williams1992Riccardo Patrese+4 ptsP2.34.415%
Ferrari2002Rubens Barrichello+4 ptsP1.57.855%
Red Bull2013Mark Webber+13 ptsP1.38.970%
Mercedes2016Lewis Hamilton-107 ptsP23.80%
Red Bull2023Sergio Perez+24 ptsP1.312.275%
Cadillac2026 · 11th on the gridValtteri Bottas+15 ptsP1000%

The only one who beats him is Lewis Hamilton in the 2016 Mercedes: 107 points clear over a full season.

Ver en español

Rating by season

7074788185199519971999200120032005200882
First season
79 1995
Peak
82 1997
2008
74 Red Bull

14 seasons in the database, from 1995 to 2008. Our own rating, from 50 to 99.

Teams

WilliamsMcLarenRed Bull Racing

Tags

#McLaren#Williams#Scotland#13 wins#Häkkinen teammate

Best year

2001

What would David Coulthard have achieved with a different car or in a different era?

His team-mates

7 team-mates across 15 seasons. When both finished the race, Coulthard was ahead in 39 of 109; on the grid he started ahead in 85 of 247.

YearTeam-mateIn the raceOn the grid
1994Damon HillWilliams · 8 races0-40-8
1995Damon HillWilliams · 17 races2-38-9
1996Mika HäkkinenMcLaren · 16 races2-34-12
1997Mika HäkkinenMcLaren · 17 races3-26-11
1998Mika HäkkinenMcLaren · 16 races1-93-13
1999Mika HäkkinenMcLaren · 16 races2-33-13
2000Mika HäkkinenMcLaren · 17 races4-97-10
2001Mika HäkkinenMcLaren · 17 races6-18-9
2002Kimi RäikkönenMcLaren · 17 races1-27-10
2003Kimi RäikkönenMcLaren · 16 races1-86-10
2004Kimi RäikkönenMcLaren · 18 races2-76-12
2005Christian KlienRed Bull · 15 races7-27-8
2005Vitantonio LiuzziRed Bull · 4 races1-14-0
2006Christian KlienRed Bull · 15 races3-49-6
2006Robert DoornbosRed Bull · 3 races1-02-1
2007Mark WebberRed Bull · 17 races1-32-15
2008Mark WebberRed Bull · 18 races2-93-15

The first number is always Coulthard's. A team-mate is whoever started the same race for the same team. "In the race" only counts races both finished, because a retirement says nothing about who was quicker. "On the grid" is the starting position, with penalties already applied.

Compare Coulthard with another driver

Titles, wins, poles and podiums side by side, against any of the 789 drivers in history.