Coulthard reveals why he turned down Ferrari deal in 1996
Former F1 driver David Coulthard was offered an opportunity to join Ferrari in 1996, but the Scot had two good reasons to shy away from the House of Maranello.
Couthard served his apprenticeship in F1 with Williams, joining the Grove-based outfit in Spain in 1994, a month after the tragic death at Imola of Ayrton Senna.
The Scot conquered his maiden Grand Prix win a year later in Portugal and looked set on remaining with the British squad for 1996. Until both Ferrari and McLaren submitted an offer to the young charger.
"One thing I learned earlier in my career was at Williams where my management company at the time managed to negotiate a much more lucrative financial package at McLaren than a two-year contract that was on offer from Williams," Coulthard told RTE.
"I went from leaving the last grand prix in '95 in Adelaide to three months later being in Melbourne with McLaren 13th on the grid.
"So, I was suddenly being paid a lot more money but in a less competitive car. So there were a couple of dry years. But thereafter, it was always about competitiveness."
While money had been a "decision-making factor" in Coulthard's choice to move to Woking, there was another reason why the 13-time Grand Prix winner snubbed the Scuderia's offer.
And that reason was Michael Schumacher.
"At Ferrari, the contract that was offered effectively made me, on paper, number two to Michael," he recalled.
"I've no doubt that Michael was the stronger driver out of the two because I recognise he was a better overall package than I was.
"But at that stage of my career, I just couldn't accept signing a number two contract and that's why I decided to sign at McLaren and I think that was the right decision for my career."
Between 1997 and 2004, Coulthard won twelve races with McLaren, but it was his teammate Mika Hakkinen who conquered the world title in consecutive years in '98 and '99.
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