Coulthard questions track etiquette
David Coulthard has called into question on-track etiquette in Formula 1, both among drivers being lapped and those fighting for position
The Scot crashed out of the European Grand Prix after swerving to avoid Fernando Alonso, who braked early heading into the NGK chicane. The Renault star said that he was having problems with his car, and denied suggestions that he brake-tested Coulthard.
"It's not right at the moment," said Coulthard. "(Race director) Charlie (Whiting) struggles to have a clear definition of how quickly guys getting lapped should move over. It's the guy being lapped who should lose time, not the bloke who has earned the right to be in the front-running car.
"I lost 2.5s in traffic at Nurburgring, which meant I came out just behind Alonso So I shouldn't have been in that situation, having what could have been a much more severe accident.
"The fact is, it has happened twice before recently, with Jacques Villeneuve going over the back of Ralf (Schumacher) when, sadly, a marshal was killed, and then Ralf hitting Rubens, when nobody was hurt. I was close to doing something similar. If this continues, there will be a fatality in the future."
Coulhard compared the circumstances of his incident with Alonso to Spa in 1998, when Michael Schumacher ran into the back of him in wet conditions.
"That was a racing incident in the same way as Nurburgring," he explained. "Michael's reaction was that I'd brake-tested him. The reality is, I lifted off to let him past me but I did it in heavy spray on the racing line. You should never do that. But in '98 I didn't have the experience and knowledge. I shouldn't have lifted on the racing line in the wet.
"Young drivers haven't got the experience, so they make mistakes in F1. I'm not going to be too hard on Alonso. All the other guys are doing the same thing. In a few years, someone will come in and it will happen to Fernando. Then he'll feel differently."
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