David Coulthard: "I only have this one life".

m&k: David Coulthard, we’ve been living with COVID-19 for a year now—can you remember when you first became aware of the pandemic?

David Coulthard: Yes, I'm good at that. The start of the pandemic caught me off guard while I was flying to Australia in my role as a BBC Formula 1 commentator. Upon arrival, I heard rumors that the race in Melbourne would be canceled. And the next morning, around 11 a.m., it happened. A few hours later, I was back on a plane heading home. Although I’d managed to have a very nice lunch with Mark Webber and his wife, the trip to Australia just for a lunch was definitely one of the longer road trips I’ve ever taken in my life. (laughs)

 

While Formula 1 is back in action under strict health guidelines—and you, as a commentator, are able to travel again—I assume your other businesses are still being affected by the pandemic?

I went into the first lockdown and told myself, «Well, okay, it is what it is.» But then I started thinking pretty quickly about how this would affect our business. In addition to my work as a commentator, I have a stake in a television production company and a stake in an event planning firm. So I had to work with my partners to make sure we were as prepared as possible—and that we’d survive it all. My event company, of course, suffered a significant downturn last year, but we managed to reinvent ourselves; we managed to retain our employees, who did a great job of exploring digital business opportunities.

 

«When I started karting at the age of eleven, I didn't know it would lead to a career in Formula 1.»

 

I'd love to hear what you've learned for your business from racing. When you started karting—as a child—did you ever imagine you'd become the most successful British race car driver of all time in terms of points?

I think that no matter what career you’re planning, you can try to lay the groundwork for the future. When I started karting at the age of eleven, I obviously didn’t know that my passion would later turn into a fifteen-year professional career as a Formula 1 driver. But I worked hard and did everything I could to be successful. And it’s been the same in other areas as well. I remember that my father told me right at the start of my racing career that even if I made it to Formula 1, I should still look beyond it as early as possible. And he told me to think about television. After all, James Hunt, who was the British Formula 1 champion in the 1970s, later became very successful as a commentator. My father didn’t have a crystal ball, but when you consider how things have turned out, I believe … that I was ready and able to adapt because I already had certain plans in the works.

 

«No matter what career you're planning, you can try to make provisions for the future.»

 

You just said that you «did everything you could to be successful.» According to your biography, one of your main focuses was total discipline. How did you maintain that over so many years?

Honestly? It feels natural to me (laughs). To be honest, I feel like I’m cheating life if I don’t seize opportunities or create them myself. I live with the awareness that I’ve been given only one chance in this world. And since I’m now on the threshold of turning 50, most of my life is already behind me. So I don’t want to feel like I lack focus or haven’t tried the things that interest me. I’m not particularly risk-taking, neither in business nor as a driver—but I simply think it’s important to have a goal, a focus; to try to achieve something…

 

… and to become a better version of yourself every day…

Yes, although there are a lot of clichéd statements about that these days, aren't there? (laughs) But in sports, it’s just like in business: It’s always about performance. So why wouldn’t you want to improve that when new technologies become available? Why wouldn’t you want to do better by seeking out the best people for open positions? And why shouldn’t everyone work on improving themselves in the areas where they want to get better?

 

Did having strong competitors also motivate you? After all, you were up against some of the best racers in the history of your sport …

Absolutely. I wanted to literally look my competitors in the eye. I wanted to understand how they drove—how they worked—how they interacted with people, and in what areas they did a better job than I did. That environment really allowed me to thrive; I enjoyed it.

Earlier, you said you would describe yourself as risk-averse. That’s probably hard to believe for anyone who’s seen even one of your races, isn’t it!?

I understand that. (laughs) But I’ve never considered my job to be particularly risky. And why? Because I believe there’s a science behind driving a race car. There’s downforce generated by the wings. There’s grip generated by the tires. You don’t take every turn at full throttle, because then you’d probably crash in the very first one. You learn something new with every race; you feel the interaction between the driver and the car. And over time, of course, you get used to the limits imposed by physics. For me, driving a race car was almost like connecting individual dots to form a complete picture. After all, a race track only has between 15 and 25 turns. So there aren’t that many major decisions that have to be made there in the course of a minute and a half. It’s almost a mathematical process. Of course, you feel the adrenaline and excitement, but I didn’t feel like I was juggling hand grenades (laughs).

 

«I feel like I'm cheating life out of something if I don't seize opportunities—or create them myself.»

 

Do your current business projects sometimes make you more nervous than racing? After all, there are factors—like the current pandemic—that you simply can't plan for.

That's true. But in sports, you also learn to accept what's happening around you at any given moment. I always advise people to approach critical situations rationally and ask themselves: Am I responsible? Is this something I can control, or is it beyond my control? And then you think about how to move forward. How do you get out of a situation—and what do you learn from it?

 

Throughout your career, you've served as an ambassador for international brands. How did it feel to contribute to their value and success? Did that sometimes put pressure on you?

Well, I think that certain brands naturally see value in having me on board because of the association and exposure that comes with Formula 1. Precisely because I have a certain track record as a driver and am still active in the media. So I think that for many of the companies I’ve worked for, there’s a logical connection between me and their brand. And I, in turn, am a fan of the brands I’ve represented; that makes it easier. Because then advertising feels very natural and sincere. I don’t want to have to pretend to anyone that I like their product; I don’t want to act like I’m happy to be somewhere when I’m totally convinced I should be somewhere else. So I try to make sure in advance that I actually like what I’m going to be doing. Of course, I have a responsibility to put everything else in my life aside when I’m at events hosted by sponsors or brands. But I think that’s just being professional. I try to honor my part of the agreement, and I hope others do the same.

 

«A racetrack has only a certain number of turns. The decisions you have to make there are almost mathematical.»

 

Perhaps you’ll allow me to conclude this interview with a somewhat broader question. You’ve taken on many different things in your life: you were a race car driver, and now you’re in television. You owned a wonderful hotel in Monaco, which you’ve since sold. And you’re a partner in several companies. What has guided you in your business decisions?

As I said, the idea of working in television had been in the back of my mind ever since I was a teenager. Even though I had to wait until I was 37 or 38 before I actually got started. The next step—joining a production company—came very quickly once I realized that the television business didn’t always operate at the organizational level I considered necessary—something I’d experienced firsthand, so to speak, as a commentator. I felt that I could do my part to make things better. The idea for Velocity, our event and experience company, emerged shortly afterward from the same line of thinking: I’d been to so many events; few of them were excellent, many were good, and many were rather average. So I thought to myself: Why not start an event company? (Laughs.) I reached out to Guy Horner, who had already founded the company TBA, and asked him if he wanted to work with me. We immediately put together two spectacular events on behalf of Formula 1, one of them at Trafalgar Square in London, which involved all the teams. But of course, there are a few other things that come to mind; there are still business opportunities that I haven’t been able to realize yet.

 

For example?

I'd be interested in talent management in the events and TV sectors. But I haven't found the right partners for that yet. Maybe the time will come. I just don't want to do it alone—because, you know, I've always been, above all, a team player.

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David Marshall Coulthard, MBE, is a former British race car driver from Scotland who went on to pursue a career as an entrepreneur and TV commentator. Coulthard, who goes by the nickname «DC» in the racing world, competed in 15 Formula 1 seasons between 1994 and 2008. He drove for the Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull teams, securing 13 Grand Prix victories and 62 podium finishes. In 2001, he finished as runner-up in the world championship behind Michael Schumacher. Coulthard is married and lives in Monaco with his wife and their 12-year-old son.