DC says exit was ‘payback'
David Coulthard took a philosophical approach to his exit from the Japanese Grand Prix after a collision with Rubens Barrichello at the hairpin on lap 39 left him limping into the pits with broken suspension
The pair had been battling for fifth spot, as a two-stopping Coulthard tried to keep himself in contention for the battle with Jenson Button over third spot, when Barrichello dived down the inside at the chicane.
Coulthard was not expecting the move and turned in - with his right front wheel being hit by Barrichello's left front. Both drivers were able to continue to the pits but neither could rejoin the race.
Although gutted at missing out on a certain points scoring opportunity, with perhaps only one race left in his F1 career, Coulthard accepted that Barrichello's move was probably as optimistic as his had been on Ralf Schumacher two weeks ago in China that forced his Williams rival out.
"Rubens took a dive down the inside from a long way back and I think it was a little optimistic," said Coulthard. "But when you consider what I did to Ralf in China you have to say that's a payback because that was optimistic too."
Barrichello defended his own behaviour by claiming that he had wanted to take Coulthard by surprise - as he aimed to bounce back from his poor qualifying performance.
"I was coming quite fast past David and I wanted to get him by surprise because my car was looking so good through 130R," said the Ferrari driver. "I got him by surprise but I don't know if he didn't see me because the impact was quite severe."
Coulthard added: "I think I was at fault in China and Rubens was at fault here. It was like the Senna-Prost incident a few years back. It's all very well you can get your car on the inside but there's a corner."
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...
Who should Alfa Romeo sign for 2022's F1 season?
OPINION: With Valtteri Bottas already signed up for 2022, all eyes are on the race for the second seat at Alfa Romeo next year. Antonio Giovinazzi is the current incumbent, but faces a tough competition from appealing short and long-term prospects
The "forced break" that was key to Ricciardo's Monza excellence
OPINION: Daniel Ricciardo has long been considered one of Formula 1’s elite drivers. But his struggles at McLaren since switching from Renault for 2021 have been painful to watch at times. Yet he’s recovered to banish those memories with a famous Monza win – built on a critically important foundation
How Verstappen is ruining his F1 title battle with Hamilton
OPINION: The Italian GP clash between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen followed a running theme in the 2021 Formula 1 title fight. Their close-quarters battles have often resulted in contact - and although Hamilton has shown a willingness to back off, Verstappen must learn to temper his aggression
