David switched teams to the Pacific team for 1993 and climbed to third place overall taking a single victory but placing higher on average in races. Those ahead of him were Formula One future drivers, Olivier Panis and Pedro Lamy.
Formula One - The big time
David Coulthard began the tragic 1994 season in Formula 3000 again. Early in the year however, the great Ayrton Senna crashed and died at Imola and Coulthard, as he was now Williams test driver was thrust into the Brazilian's race seat as No. 2 to Damon Hill.
His first year was a learning process in which he occasionally allowed his abilities to show with placing in the points in his second race and taking second place at Estoril. Coulthard was replaced by British hero Nigel Mansell for the last three races of '94 but still placed eighth in the Driver's Championship. He was retained for the full 1995 season.
The Williams Renault was a quick car for the 1995 season and David challenged Damon Hill early on for the lead in the team. However, it was also a season of silly mistakes and lack of experience. High points included finishing second in his first race at Brazil and winning at Estoril.
However, Coulthard crashed out of the lead embarassingly at Adelaide by sliding into the pit wall on a pit stop and also picking up a stop and go penalty in the lead of the British Grand Prix.
It would prove to be a difficult year for Coulthard and Mclaren as he switched to Ron Dennis' outfit for 1996. Mercedes engines were powerful but unreliable and Coulthard struggled with endless retirements to only end the year seventh.
His skill and tenacity did get him second place in Monaco however, in an incident packed race. Things began to come together a little more for 1997, the final season for wide cars and slick tyres.
Coulthard won the season opener in Melbourn and again in Monza where the Mercedes engine excelled. Third overall was his reward after Michael Schumacher's demotion from the title fight.
For 1998, David Coulthard had the best car in the field. Everyone else struggled with the new grooved tyre rules and Coulthard and teammate Hakkinen were miles ahead of the pack.
Coulthard was handed the lead in the opening race in Australia when Hakkinen pitted erroneously. An agreement had been made between the two drivers, however that whoever reached turn one first on the opening lap would win the race.
Coulthard slowed handing victory to Hakkinen and perhaps that year's Championship. Honourable and gentlemanly as always. There were problems and collisions with Schumacher for 1998 but Coulthard was a force when he was on form and his car was good.
Anyone who saw Coulthard’s fight back from the end of the field in Austria will testify to that. Despite his pace, David could manage only the one win at Imola.
1999 saw David score one more victory than he had managed in 1998 yet still be the clear No. 2 at Mclaren. David though sent the British fans into space with a victory at Silverstone.
He won again at Spa after clearly stamping his authority over team mate Hakkinen with a gentle nudge at the off.
At the end of the season though, he had scored less points than was required to secure Mclaren a second Constructors Championship in a row and was forced into a slowing role, holding back Eddie Irvine at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix.
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