There’s a great story told about David Coulthard when he was staying at the huge country manor house of Lord March for the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed in England. Even though he was a guest in a mansion filled with servants to look after his every need, David made his bed each morning.
Scotland’s Coulthard, or DC as he is often called, is one of the good guys in F-1. He’s polite, articulate, speaks his mind and drives fast.
He never won the World Championship, but finished second in the points once and third four times.
He’s had more than his fair share of accidents this year, but a solid drive to third place in Monaco proved he still is a top-line driver.
He wanted to quit while still on top, and chose his home Grand Prix at Silverstone to announce his retirement, ending an F-1 career that spanned 15 years and brought him 13 victories.

"...I won’t be looking back thinking, ‘if only, if only I had had a world championship-winning car.’ I did have a world championship-winning car; I just didn’t win it. But I won a number of Grands Prix and had a lot of fun along the way.”

David Coulthard

“My decision was taken earlier in the year and is based on a desire to stop while I am still competitive and enjoying the immense challenge that Grand Prix driving represents,” he said. “I also have the desire to look for new challenges within the sport.”
Jenson Button gave Coulthard a kiss on the cheek as DC’s retirement plans became public during a press conference.
“David has achieved a lot more than most drivers will in their F-1 career,” Button said. “I have also always got on well with DC since 2000. We have been pretty good friends around the paddock, but also away from the circuit.”
Lewis Hamilton was racing go-karts when he first met Coulthard.
“It’s a shame to see him go because he’s always been one of the coolest characters in the pit lane,” Hamilton said, “and after such a long period of time, he’s still here, pushing very hard. He’s an inspiration for all of us drivers here.”
Mark Webber has enjoyed his three seasons as Coulthard’s teammate.
“It has been very interesting working with someone who has won 13 Grands Prix and had a successful career — and will continue to push to the end,” Webber said. “I am happy to think that I played a role in continuing to push David until the end of his career — keeping him on his toes — and I am sure he has enjoyed that challenge as well.”
DC, 37, will continue to work with Red Bull as a consultant and has not ruled out racing in other categories.
It was not a difficult decision to retire.
“I have always had a fairly realistic view on the career of a sportsman, how long it may last and the opportunities that are there for you,” he explained. “I feel fulfilled in the opportunities I have had. I won’t be looking back thinking, ‘if only, if only I had had a world championship-winning car.’ I did have a world championship-winning car; I just didn’t win it. But I won a number of Grands Prix and had a lot of fun along the way.”
His motivation remains strong.
“I am enjoying the racing,” he said. “I would hate to find myself in a situation where I wake up and think I do not want to go racing today. I have seen it happen to other people I have been close to in the sport who have been in that situation. I just don’t want to find myself in that situation.
“After 15 seasons, I think that’s enough. The sport is in good hands with the other younger British drivers, so October in Brazil, that will be it.”