David was Williams' test driver when he was promoted to race driver in May 1994 after Ayrton Senna's tragical death. David's first race was the Spanish GP (who drove the other Williams in Monaco '94?! Wanna know!!), in which he had to retire due to a technical problem. His career at Williams didn't start well enough, and at the end of the season DC was replaced by Nigel Mansell, the World Champion 1992. And what Mansell did? He won the last race of the season in Australia, Adelaide after Hill and Schumacher had crashed each others out of the race.
Frank Williams had to face a dilemma: Which one to choose as the team's driver for the next year, rookie-DC or WC-Mansell? And F. Williams chose DC!
DC 'thanked' for the trust by doing a couple of terrible mistakes during the season '95 (I've never seen anyone doing stupid mistakes like that!). After taking pole in one race, DC drove off the track at the FORMATION LAP. And at the last race of the season at Adelaide, when he was LEADING the race, DC drove to the wall at the pit straight. Yes! "He must have been thinking something..."
Politics (whatever that means!) decided DC's seat for the season 1996. Already at the end of the year '94 McLaren had been interested about getting DC to their team. DC had made a pre contract with McLaren for the season 96. Still in 95 Williams 'won' DC, year 96 not. Since the season 96 DC has been driving for McLaren with some unknown Finn.
The season 96 was catastrophical for McLaren and to its drivers. The only happy moment was David's second place at Monaco. Only three cars saw the finish line... The Williams-drivers Damon Hill and F1-rookie Jacques Villeneuve were fighting for the World Championship on the season 97. Jacques had already won America's IndyCar-series' championship. At the last race in Suzuka however a tyre got loosen from Jack's car and Hill won the title. The group of friends Jacques, Mika Salo and DC shaved their heads bald... (Hey! Baldy man!!)
At the beginning of the season 97 McLaren's and Mercedes' team work started finally to product fruits of success. The first race of the season in Australia Melbourne should have been a triumph to Williams, but what happened? McLaren had raced 49 races without a single win, and now the car had a different colouring. The main sponsor Marlboro had had enough, and the new speed giving tobacco was West. The car had been coloured with silver grey like the famous Silver Arrows at the 50s. But no, the new car couldn't be called a silver arrow, not before it had won a race. And what a miracle, the christening took place already at Melbourne, when DC won!!
Melbourne wasn't the only race on the season 97 which David won. In September DC was fighting at the track of Monza, trying to win the Italian GP. Pole man Jean Alesi disagreed. A great start had risen David to the heat, and the two front runners curved to the pits at the same time. McLaren made it a bit faster, and that decided the win to David!
At the end of the season the Mercedes engines blew up a bit too often especially in Mika's car, who was still chasing his first GP-win. At the season finale in Jerez, Spain Ferrari's Michael Schumacher and Jacques with his Williams were fighting for the title. Schuey was controlling the race at the beginning, but after pit stops Jack decided to try to find a way pass. Jacques did make it pass Schuey, but Michael decided to revenue his Adelaide 94 chop and panged Williams to its side with his car. This time however justice happened and the nutcase was the only one who retired.
Still a couple of laps of the race was left, when the standings were Jack, DC and Mika. McLaren gave a team order and told David to let Mika pass, so that he would get the chance to try his first win. And after the race the results were: Häkkinen 1st, DC 2nd and Jacques, the new World Champion 3rd.
In the next race, the first GP of the season 1998 DC had to let Mika pass him again. This time there was not a direct team order, instead there were "a gentleman's agreement". FIA wasn't too pleased about this, and McLaren's actions were widely disapproved. All and all, my opinion is that David's mental back bone broke in these two races. After these races Mika has had the final word at McLaren. Still in 1997 DC was ahead of Mika in the drivers' standings. Mika however win the Championship in 98 and 99. And still in 1998 DC was sometimes able to beat Mika in qualifying and even in races; but last year DC took no poles. Two sweet victories - at Silverstone and Spa - were the highlights of the depressing year.
Season 2000 had
before the Canadian GP been great for David: He had been on the
podium in all the races except for the first one! That row lasted
for six races, even though in Brazil Ferrari's Fan Club FIA dared
to disqualify David. It was a lot of fun to think for a
while that Davids bad luck had finally ended with the win in
Monaco! But apperently the World Championship-title doesn't want
to come to DC...
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