David Coulthard

One of the world’s most widely recognised sports personalities, David Coulthard is a former Formula 1 Grand Prix driver, television broadcaster, author and entrepreneur.

Born in Scotland, David began racing karts at the age of 11 and achieved significant success in the lower formulae of motor racing. This included victory in the prestigious Macau Grand Prix. He won the inaugural McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award in 1989, leading to a test drive for the McLaren Formula 1 team.

He went on to race for the Williams, McLaren and Red Bull Formula 1 teams, winning 13 Grand Prix races and achieving 62 podium finishes.

His business interests include co-founding Whisper Films, one of the UK’s fastest growing television production companies which produces sports and entertainment content including from NFL, Formula 1, US Open Golf, FA Women’s Football and the Paralympic Games. He is also a partner in Velocity Experience which develops and produces branded events for a wide range of corporate clients.

In 2022 David co-founded the More Than Equal initiative aimed at creating the opportunity for the first woman to race in Formula 1 during the modern era. This programme aims to identify the most promising female racing talents and eliminate the barriers to entry at the pinnacle of world motor sport.

Contact Great British Speakers today to book former formula one driver and motivational speaker David Coulthard for your next event.

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After Dinner Business & Finance High Performance Leadership & Teamwork Motoring Presenters Speaker Sport

More About David Coulthard

In 2019 David became non-Executive Chairman of W Series, the world’s first professional all-women single seater racing series and in September he was elected President of the British Racing Drivers Club which owns and operates Silverstone Circuit in the UK.

David’s profile is underlined by current brand ambassadorships for companies including Red Bull, Mercedes Benz, IWC and Heineken. He continues to drive Red Bull’s Formula 1 cars at promotional events, including activities such as driving on the helipad of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, through the Lincoln Tunnel between New York and New Jersey, and introducing Vietnamese fans to the sights and sounds of Formula 1 on the streets of Hanoi.

David Coulthard | Formula 1 Career

David Coulthard F1 Mercedes Benz champion speaker at Great British Speakers

In 1993 Martin joined the Williams Formula 1 team as test driver, providing vital support to drivers including Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.

He made his Formula 1 World Championship debut for the team the following year. His first Formula 1 victory, at the Portuguese Grand Prix, came whilst driving for Williams in 1995.

He then moved to McLaren for nine seasons, becoming the longest contracted driver in the team’s history. During this time he won a further 12 Grands Prix and finished in the top 3 in the World Championship for Drivers on no fewer than 5 occasions.

Formula 1 victories included winning the British and Monaco Grands Prix twice, and during this time he enjoyed wheel-to-wheel combat with rivals including teammate and fellow Great British Speakers star Mika Hakkinen and Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher.

In 2005 David was invited to join the newly created Red Bull Racing team and played a key role in developing the team’s capabilities, including bringing its first podium finish in Monaco in 2006. He stepped away from racing in Formula 1 at the end of the 2008 season, but not before scoring his final podium finish at that year’s Canadian Grand Prix.

David Coulthard | Life After F1

From 2010 until the end of the 2012 season David continued his professional motor racing career in the German Touring Car Championship whilst simultaneously making the transition into television broadcasting and commentary.

David Coulthard Scottish F1 Red Bull Mercedes Benz champion presenter speaker at Great British Speakers

Between 2009 and 2015 he co-commentated on Formula 1 for the BBC before moving across to Channel 4 where he remains central to the sport’s coverage in the UK.

He also regularly presents the podium interviews with top three drivers on behalf of Formula 1 itself.

In 2007 David published his autobiography It Is What It Is and in 2018 his second book The Winning Formula made the Sunday Times Best Seller list in the UK.

David Coulthard MBE

In 2010 he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

red-bull-david-coulthard at Great British Speakers

David Coulthard | Speaker

Extremely popular with corporate audiences, David has a number of high profile roles in the sport today. This includes acting as a global brand ambassador for major companies, a broadcaster and commentator for Channel 4 in the UK, and continuing to drive Formula One cars at promotional events for long-time partner Red Bull.

Forming the ultimate ‘double act’ with Great British Speakers star keynote Mark Gallagher in 2012, David brings not only a winner’s insight to the task of driving yourself and your team to achieve excellence but has first-hand experience of handling the risks, technology, innovation and sacrifices required to compete at the highest level.