David Coulthard experienced yet another season of technical problems and mediocrity, punctuated by some brilliant performances in 1999. The high spots of the year included holding Eddie Irvine off to win his home grand prix in Britain and winning the Belgium Grand Prix in a masterly show of domination, even over team mate Mika Hakkinen. The lowest point must be making contact with Hakkinen and punting him off the track in a bungled overtaking manoeuvre at the Austrian Grand Prix.

He once again appeared to bear the brunt of the team's reliability problems, which cost him possible wins. In the French Grand Prix the electronics failed whilst he was leading the race and in Malaysia the car ground to a halt after he had boldly passed Michael Schumacher and was chasing Irvine hard for the lead.

The Scot came to Formula1 on the crest of a wave, beginning his career as a test driver at Williams. Senna's death provided him with a full-time seat but the team dropped him in favour of Jacques Villeneuve at the end of 1996, when he moved to McLaren. He has been Hakkinen's partner ever since. There is a pervasive feeling that DC has never quite lived up to his potential and he knows that 2000 is the year he must finally show his true mettle.