WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO
With Mika Häkkinen and Rubens Barrichello at the 2000 French Grand Prix
HelloMonaco : Let me use the opportunity to congratulate you on your birthday : greetings from all the HelloMonaco team !
David Coulthard : Thank you very much . Yes , fifty … I think that so much of your life is behind you at that point and now you are really focused on how you want to spend the rest of it .
: How did you start your career ? Who brought you into motor sport ?
DC : There was a greater chance for me to become a farmer than to become a Grand Prix driver . In many ways the journey was kind of steered by my father . He always had this passion for racing . As a young boy I would watch Formula 1 on television and enjoy it with him . When I was eleven years old , he brought me a kart . I started karting . When I was seventeen I moved into cars .
I remember I was watching Formula 1 , I was fourteen , my father said : when you will get into F1 , I think you should live in Monaco . I had no idea where Monaco was . He also said that after your racing career you should work in television .
I think I have a controlling father , but a father who has a vision . At the same time I was born in a small village . I think my background is giving me a particular vision on the world .
: Talking about friendship and relationships in the team or between racing drivers from different teams , does it exist ?
DC : In the end , your teammate is not actually a mate , he is kind of your enemy , because
2000 Canadian Grand Prix
if he is winning the Grand Prix , you are not winning it . But we always have respect for each other .
I can say Mika Hakkinen is a friend of mine . He is a fantastic racing driver . We lived through seven years of success . I really enjoy spending time with him .
: What kind of lessons did you learn from your participation in Formula 1 ?
DC : The competition , the desire to win , the desire to push the car to the limit is so addictive that you will do it even if there is more danger . The danger is part of the challenge ; it focuses you on managing your fears , and contributes to you managing your personal
Third place at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix
There was more opportunity for me to be a farmer than to become a Grand Prix driver .
limits . Discipline , hard work , moving forward . Don ’ t be a victim , attack .
: What was your most memorable race ?
DC : I think my best victory was probably the second victory here in Monte-Carlo . I really had to take control of the race . No crash which is a critical element .
: There is an idea that nowadays racing is all about the “ right ” car and we started to forget about the personalities in motorsport ...
DC : Racing is not a purely technological sport , it ’ s a people sport . People are talking about autonomous racing in the future , when there will be no driver . That ’ s interesting , but I don ’ t think you would have a global audience watching . To watch a machine , compete against a machine is not as exciting as to watch a human compete against a human .
Hello Monaco Summer — Autumn 2021 / 39 www . hellomonaco . com