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F1 legends talk McLaren favouritism and furious pit-lane FIGHTS with world champion
Today, the Formula 1 world is focused on the title battle between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, but prior to the rise of papaya machinery, McLaren managed Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. As rivals in 1994 and 1995, Hakkinen and Coulthard became teammates in 1996 under Ron Dennis’ leadership. Their intra-team rivalry was notorious, with Coulthard often yielding to Hakkinen as the Finn clashed with Michael Schumacher.
As the 2025 battle intensifies, former teammates turned friends, Hakkinen and Coulthard, have taken their rivalry on tour, with GPFans covering the UK tour’s closing night in London’s Dominion Theatre. Coulthard frequently claimed unfair treatment at McLaren, questioning Dennis for favoring Hakkinen. The final tour date highlighted their chaotic crashes and contentious moments from a perilous era in racing.
Hosted by Channel 4 F1 presenter Steve Jones, the audience enjoyed an evening with racing icons Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard, featuring clips of their memorable moments as teammates. They delved into their rivalries, racing against Schumacher, and memorable incidents like the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix. The lively event concluded with a debate on whether McLaren truly favored Hakkinen over Coulthard, showcasing the enduring discourse between the two drivers.
