Coulthard: “The engine was switched off”
David Coulthard has claimed the reason he stalled on the dummy grid for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix was because his engine "was switched off"
The Scot was forced to start the race, easily the most difficult of the year from an overtaking perspective, from the rear of the grid after his car refused to start the green flag lap - a carbon copy of what happened before the Spanish GP. He recovered to finish the race in fifth place, but has dropped 12 points behind series leader, and race winner, Michael Schumacher.
"I suffered a technical problem of which the team will explain," said Coulthard. "Basically, the engine was switched off."
Coulthard's resultant damage limitation exercise was helped by the fact his McLaren has one of the biggest fuel tanks on the grid and he was able to delay his pit stop until late in the race. His task was made much harder, however, by blatant blocking tactics from Arrows driver Enrique Bernoldi, who kept him behind for over 40 laps.
"It was very frustrating behind Enrique," said DC. "He was only doing his job, but he was so slow. He was also closing the door quite hard on me, but he's entitled to do that I suppose."
Coulthard admitted the episode has harmed his championship chances, but he is adamant that he won't give up on his title dream.
"Of course it makes the championship harder," he said. "I can only do my best, which I feel I did today. The rest is down to the racing Gods."
The ‘backwards step’ that is the right move for Formula 1
OPINION: With its days apparently numbered, the MGU-H looks set to be dropped from Formula 1’s future engine rules in order to entice new manufacturers in. While it may appear a change of direction, the benefits for teams and fans could make the decision a worthwhile call
The floundering fortunes of F1’s many Lotus reboots
Team Lotus ceased to exist in 1994 - and yet various parties have been trying to resurrect the hallowed name, in increasingly unrecognisable forms, ever since. DAMIEN SMITH brings GP Racing’s history of the legendary team to an end with a look at those who sought to keep the flame alive in Formula 1
Why the 2021 title fight is far from F1's worst, despite its toxic background
OPINION: Formula 1 reconvenes for the Russian Grand Prix two weeks after the latest blow in ‘Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton’. While the Silverstone and Monza incidents were controversial, they thankfully lacked one element that so far separates the 2021 title fight from the worst examples of ugly championship battles
How F1’s other champion to emerge from 1991 thrived at Lotus
Mika Hakkinen became Michael Schumacher’s biggest rival in Formula 1 in the late-90s and early 2000s, having also made his F1 debut in 1991. But as MARK GALLAGHER recalls, while Schumacher wowed the world with a car that was eminently capable, Hakkinen was fighting to make his mark with a famous team in terminal decline
The forgotten F1 comeback that began Jordan’s odyssey
Before Michael Schumacher – or anyone else – had driven the 191 (or 911 as it was initially called), Eddie Jordan turned to a fellow Irishman to test his new Formula 1 car. JOHN WATSON, a grand prix winner for Penske and McLaren, recalls his role in the birth of a legend…
The squandered potential of a 70s F1 underdog
A podium finisher in its first outing but then never again, the BRM P201 was a classic case of an opportunity squandered by disorganisation and complacency, says STUART CODLING
The other notable Monza escape that F1 should learn from
OPINION: The headlines were dominated by the Italian Grand Prix crash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who had the halo to thank for avoiding potentially serious injury. But two days earlier, Formula 1 had a lucky escape with a Monza pitlane incident that could also have had grave consequences
How Monza only added more questions to F1's sprint race conundrum
With two sprint races under its belt, Formula 1 must now consider its options for them going forward. While they've helped deliver exciting racing on Sundays, the sprints themselves have been somewhat lacking - creating yet another conundrum for F1 to solve...
