Will DC never win the WDC?

Mr V · 5 Nov 2002, 17:47 (Ref:422322)

From www.f1-live.com

According to Mercedes Motorsport boss Norbert Haug, David shouldn't be looking at the number one spot next year either.

"It's unrealistic for us to have title aspirations. Our first aim right now is to have a competitive car," he said at Mercedes Stars and Cars day on Saturday. "We will have to work very hard this winter to improve these positions in the coming championship. We have a lot of work ahead us. We want to be where we were in 1998 and 1999, which is right at the top in the Formula One championship."

However, Martin Whitmarsh thinks that Kimi has what it takes to do the job one day

Managing director Martin Whitmarsh is fully confident that up and coming Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen will be able to handle the pressure of fighting for title glory when finally given the necessary equipment to do so.
"We haven't produced a car that has allowed Kimi to be a title contender this year, so he hasn't had the pressures that Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard have enjoyed and endured in recent years," he said. "But, if we had the package, and when you look at his psyche, you think he can handle it. One thing's for sure, he certainly will be able to next year or the year after."

Are McLaren just using DC to get the car to where it was a few years ago so that it will enable Kimi to win the WDC?

**Adam43** · 5 Nov 2002, 18:06 (Ref:422333)

Of course they are using DC to get the car back to what it was. That's part of his job. However, it isn't specifically for Kimi to win the championship. They would just like one of their drivers to win it.

They also, obviously, feel Kimi is a good bet for a future champion. That's why they signed him.

golem · 5 Nov 2002, 18:06 (Ref:422335)

F1's cut-throat. They're building for the future. Hmm. I'd say he could, nothing's impossible. But it doesn't look like it'll be easy, that's for sure.

Sato san · 5 Nov 2002, 18:26 (Ref:422348)

Im sure we will never see David as World Drivers Champion.

Kimi is their future

**Bononi** · 5 Nov 2002, 18:52 (Ref:422378)

Altough two icones of this site believe that "this year is DC's year", I don't see it happening.
He had the best chance one can have to win the WDC and failed. Why ? His teammate was faster and more consistent.
Now, if McLaren gets the edge again, he will face the same problem.

JGM · 5 Nov 2002, 18:54 (Ref:422380)

By the time McLaren and Ilmor get around to building a championship winning car Kimi will have buried DC. He's had his chances and he wasn't quite good enough.

ASCII Man · 5 Nov 2002, 19:02 (Ref:422386)

"And into the pitlane,...*bang* Ohh my goodness, David Coulthard!"

That was hilarious!

Damon · 5 Nov 2002, 20:04 (Ref:422443)

He's never been world chapionship material and never will be. He's been in the best car or close to it for the whole of his career and achieved pretty much nothing.

classic · 5 Nov 2002, 20:16 (Ref:422455)

Yeah. DC is one of the guys, currently driving, who might never win the WDC. As one of the remaining gentlemen drivers, he is not nearly ruthless enough to win the championship.
One thing has to be said though.. If he doesn't win the WDC, he will probably be remembered as one of the most talented drivers never to win the championship.

Damon · 5 Nov 2002, 20:17 (Ref:422456)

Yeah, just behind Bernoldi!

Yoong Montoya · 5 Nov 2002, 21:15 (Ref:422487)

I suppose DC is the new Stirling Moss. The only way I can see him winning the WDC now is in a 1982 type year. He had his chances in 1998 and 1999 and blew them.

ASCII Man · 5 Nov 2002, 21:48 (Ref:422505)

don't forget 2001...
Wasn't that year supposed to be DC's year??

steve nielsen · 5 Nov 2002, 22:53 (Ref:422570)

Even if Mclaren manage to build a winning car next year DC will be outclassed by Kimi!

ASCII Man · 5 Nov 2002, 22:56 (Ref:422575)

Even if Kimi is better than David, he sure changed a lot since his maiden season with Sauber...

I don't know what the

happened to him since he's with Mclaren, but it's not a good thing for sure...

Wrex · 5 Nov 2002, 23:30 (Ref:422603)

You guys are so dead when EERO read's this.

The answer to the original question, will DC ever be WDC? No.

I have said the same 2 things for the last 4 years. DC will never be WDC, and McLaren will dump him at the end of this contract. I continue to miss on the later (still not sure why), but my stance on his championship aspirations has'nt changed.

On his day, DC is up there with the best of them. But only on his day. He still remains one of the few drivers that can mix it with Michael (and succeed) when the car is up to it. But in that case more often than not his team mate is already racing off into the distance.

He deserves his seat in F1, and of the other drivers available, his seat at McLaren.

However, by the time the Merc is fast enough, Kimi will have relegated him to number 2 or he'll be driving a lesser car.

Kex · 5 Nov 2002, 23:43 (Ref:422611)

This will be DC's tenth season of Formula One and his ninth full season. Personally I think he's missed the boat.

Although Nigel Mansell won the World Championship in his thirteenth season (twelfth full season).

He's one of those drivers who can win the Championship but only in the best car with no competition from his team mate. He probably couldn't win it under 'normal' circumstances.

Valve Bounce · 5 Nov 2002, 23:43 (Ref:422613)

Quote:

Originally posted by classic

One thing has to be said though.. If he doesn't win the WDC, he will probably be remembered as one of the most talented drivers never to win the championship.

You must be kidding. Only one driver ever fit that bill and is remembered as such, Stirling Moss. Nobody thinks of F1 in the light of a driver talented enough yet didn't win the Championship. Otherwise we would have a list headed by Eddie Irvine, Jos, Rubens, Ralf, Zanardi, etc, etc, etc.

Stirling is remembered because he was the best in his era. Nobody in this forum, in their wildest moments, ever claimed that DC was the best in any era. OK, maybe EERO, but he gets carried away.

Wrex · 5 Nov 2002, 23:47 (Ref:422618)

I agree. Stirling and even Gilles are 'should have won' champions. There is a big difference between should have won, and could have won. To put DC with these names is a little insulting.

Shall we start etching Rubins name in as well?

Valve Bounce · 5 Nov 2002, 23:51 (Ref:422624)

Eddie before DC. Please!!

Raven · 6 Nov 2002, 00:40 (Ref:422654)

DC is still probably one of the top 5 or 6 guys on the grid. I'd have him in my team any day over Ralf, Trulli or Rubens.

Ask yourself, seriously, who could do a better job? Villeneuve? Maybe, but not by much if at all. Nick? Boys from Woking don't seem to agree. The only other who really stands out is Fisi.

Valve Bounce · 6 Nov 2002, 03:13 (Ref:422696)

Or maybe Ant, or Mark, or JPM, or Irvine, or......

f1manoz · 6 Nov 2002, 09:35 (Ref:422802)

DC will never win the WDC. His time is past. Once the car has come good, DC will be given the boot, Kimi will be number one and another driver will be brought in to back up Kimi.

**Bononi** · 6 Nov 2002, 11:36 (Ref:422864)

Uh, oh... after I, Wrex and Valve have pointed EERO's fave driver as a failure, where are you man ? You must be getting old ! And about you Moffie ?

ASCII Man · 6 Nov 2002, 12:03 (Ref:422893)

Quote:

Originally posted by Kex
He's one of those drivers who can win the Championship but only in the best car with no competition from his team mate. He probably couldn't win it under 'normal' circumstances.

Same goes for TGB (better known here as TGF) too..

BootsOntheSide · 6 Nov 2002, 12:50 (Ref:422919)

DC has never eally had the talent to be world champion. His years as a distant 2nd to Mika should be proof enough of this. He makes elementary mistakes even now, has no real killer instinct when it comes to voertaking or battling with people, and is ultiamtely not as fast as Kimi, even with 7 1/2 years more experience. His car development skill is perhaps the one area in which he is likely to be ahead of Kimi by the end of 2003.