DC under pressure from McLaren
McLaren bosses have told David Coulthard to drive more and analyse less, if he is to improve on his current lacklustre form. "David is a very analytical individual and sometimes that is a useful quality but it may not be useful quality when you have got to put it on the line in one lap," said managing director Martin Whitmarsh
"You have got to blank out the analysis of each corner and make sure you are fluid and instinctive in the way you do your qualifying lap. He has got to recognise that he can do it - relax and drive instinctively."
The Scot has been regularly outpaced by team-mate Kimi Raikkonen this year, leading to an inevitable question mark over his current level of confidence. Although they have scored one win each, Raikkonen's scoring has been more consistent, putting him in second place in the championship in comparison to Coulthard's seventh.
Whitmarsh thinks that qualifying is where DC needs to improve most. "He is racing well, but there is a high standard of driving out there and you have got to qualify well," he said. "It is all about driver confidence, and how a driver qualifies is a mind game. He has got to get that fixed."
Share Or Save This Story
How the McLaren MP4/8B's engine blow-up changed F1 history
Is the MP4/8B McLaren’s greatest what-might-have-been?
Why McLaren has been coy about introducing its rotating F1 rear wing
Clark, Senna, Antonelli – How the grand chelem age record evolved
Why Aston Martin is a better destination on the F1 driver market than it seems
What is it like being a Williams F1 simulator driver?
Marquez expects rivals to risk more in hunt for MotoGP title
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments