AT THE END OF THIS YEAR
Following David Coulthard's announcement that he plans to retire from race driving in Formula 1 after the end of the 2008 season, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner commented:
"Working with David has been an absolute pleasure and his contribution tothe team over the past four seasons has been significant. He is a consummate professional and I think that one of the key elements to the length of his career is the dedication he has applied and the commitment he has shown to the team. He has demonstrated that he is a real team player, a fact reinforced by the statistic that he has only driven for two other F1 teams in his career. To date, he has won thirteen grands prix and there could have been many more if you count the near misses and the ones he gifted to other drivers! He scored our first point, our first podium and was the first of our drivers to lead a grand prix. Above all, he is a gentleman and I regard him as a good friend. Within the team there's a huge amount of respect for David. His retirement brings to a close not just his career as a grand prix racing driver but also a chapter in the history of Formula 1, if one considers the changes the sport has been through while he has been involved with it.
"Now he heads off to face a new challenge. Red Bull Racing will still be utilising his services and he will on occasion drive the car in test sessions for us so that we can draw upon his vast experience and knowledge. He will be involved as a consultant to the team and to the technical group as we look to extract the maximum from his considerable experience of Formula 1. I don't think he will be struggling to fill his time!"
DAVID COULTHARD
Nationality: BritishDate of Birth: 27 / 03 / 1971Lives: Monaco
STATISTICS (up to and including the French GP 2008)
- David has won 13 F1 races
- David has had 12 pole positions
- David has led 60 grands prix
- David has had 62 podium finishes (his most recent was in Canada 2008 for Red BullRacing, when he finished third)
- David has set 18 fastest race laps
- David has scored 533 points up to and including the French Grand Prix 2008. Basedon points, he's the most successful British GP driver in the history of the sport.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2008 Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Third place podium finish (Canada)
2007 Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Scored 14 points 10h in Drivers' Championship
2006 Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Third place podium finish (Monaco) Scored 14 points 13h in Drivers' Championship
2005 Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Two fourth place finishes (Australia and Nürburgring) Scored 24 points 12th in Drivers' Championship
2004 McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver Fourth place (Germany) Scored 24 points Ninth in Drivers' Championship
2003 McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver Wins Australian Grand Prix Scored 51 points Seventh in Drivers' Championship
2002 McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver Wins Monaco Grand Prix Scored 41 points Fifth in Drivers' Championship
2001 McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver Wins Brazilian Grand Prix and Austrian Grand Prix Scored 65 points Second in Drivers' Championship
2000 McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver Wins in Great Britain, Monaco and France Scored 73 points Third in Drivers' Championship
1999 McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver Wins British Grand Prix and Belgian Grand Prix Scored 48 points Fourth in Drivers' Championship
1998 McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver Wins San Marino Grand Prix Scored 56 points Third in Drivers' Championship
1997 McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver Wins Australian Grand Prix and Italian Grand Prix Scored 36 points Third in Drivers' Championship
1996 McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver Second in the Monaco Grand Prix Scored 18 points Seventh in Drivers' Championship
1995 Williams Renault Formula One driver Wins Portuguese Grand Prix Scored 49 points Third in Drivers' Championship
1994 Williams Renault Formula One driver Promoted from Test Driver to Race Driver
1993 Formula 3000 Championship Third in Championship Winner of GT Class at Le Mans 24 Hours Official F1 Test Driver for Williams Renault
1992 Formula 3000 Championship Ninth in Championship Eighth in Euro-Macau-Fuji Formula 3
1991 British Formula 3 Championship Second in Championship Wins Formula 3 Macau GP Wins Marlboro Masters of Formula 3
1990 Formula Vauxhall-Lotus Championship / GM Lotus EuroseriesChampionship
1989 Dunlop / Autosport FF1600 Champion Wins P&O Ferries Junior FF1600 Series Third Formula Ford Festival, Brands Hatch Wins McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award
1988 Scottish Open Kart Champion1986-1987 Scottish Open Kart Champion & British Super Kart 1 Champion1983-1985 Scottish junior Kart Champion
