16/11/2004
NEWS STORY
With the annual game of F1 'musical chairs' slowly coming to a close, and teams already announcing launch dates, the drivers yet to find a 'slot' for next season are getting increasingly anxious.
Nick Heidfeld can at least look forward to the shoot-out for the WilliamsF1 seat, while Christian Klien appears to have the support of Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz. That said, while talking Austrian drivers we cannot help but wonder why nobody has mentioned Alexander Wurz.
Other than the WilliamsF1 and Red Bull drives there are also seats at Jordan and Minardi, however unless there is a major change of fortune, both teams will be looking for pay drivers.
So where does this leave David Coulthard?
The Scot recently admitted to visiting Grove, home of WilliamsF1, the team that gave him his F1 'break' back in 1994.
With 175 Grands Prix to his credit, together with 13 wins, 12 poles and 18 fastest laps, the Scot has a good pedigree, however, one cannot help but feel that he is beginning to oversell himself, and thereby appears to be looking increasingly desperate.
A report in a British tabloid at the weekend suggested that the former McLaren star is even considering a role as driver/team manager, something usually associated with football, where player/managers are quite common.
A report in the Sunday Mirror, suggests that DC, who appears willing to accept almost any reasonable offer, is considering a driver/manager role with either Midland F1 or Dubai F1, and even possibly Red Bull.
The ubiquitous "close source" said: "David is really up for the idea. But he would only consider joining a new team or a reincarnation team if he had a shareholding or a greater involvement, like management.
"He has so much experience at top teams like McLaren and Williams that would be invaluable in making sure a team avoids all the expensive mistakes that are an inevitable part of the learning process," added the source, clearly having forgotten the experience of Alain Prost, a driver who (on track) achieved considerably more than Coulthard.
"He has in no way given up on thoughts of driving," the source continued. "That would have to be an integral part of the deal. But it would be only natural that when he got to the other end of his career he would move into a management role.
"It's a changing time in Formula One and who's to say this new kind of approach isn't exactly what is needed for the future?"
DC is considering new teams such as Midland and Dubai, neither of which is due to enter F1 until 2006, by which time the Scot will be almost 35.
"Some approaches have been from people talking about coming into F1 and he has told them he will only look at it when there is a team set up and something concrete to consider," revealed the source.
However, the 'hard sell' isn't entirely down to 'the source', the Scot is adamant that he has something to offer any team willing to give him a try.
"We are looking at everything and exploring all the opportunities out there," said Coulthard. "I have a lot to offer in terms of undiminished speed, commitment and professionalism backed up by 10 years at the top.
"If I was to get involved in a new or reincarnated team I would want a wider role and a greater involvement than just a driver," he continued. "But then I would expect them to want me to bring to bear all the experience I have. I wouldn't do it unless my heart was in it and it was something I believed I could do well."
In the past, drivers have gone on to run their own teams, usually, with only a couple of notable exceptions, without much success. Furthermore, this was far more common in the 60s and 70s, when F1 was still a sport rather than the multi-million pound business that it is today.
The most recent case was when Alain Prost bought the former Ligier team, then again there was Niki Lauda's brief reign at Jaguar.