Scots F1 legend David Coulthard says surviving a fatal plane crash jolted him out of playboy lifestyle

By ELYSIA TAYLOR-HEARN

Published: 21:23 BST, 17 April 2025 | Updated: 21:23 BST, 17 April 2025

F1 legend David Coulthard has revealed how surviving a horror plane crash transformed the trajectory of his life and illustrious sporting career.

The McLaren driver and 13-time Grand Prix champion was flying to his Monaco home on a private jet in 2000 when a technical fault forced the plane to make a crash landing.

Pilots lost control of the aircraft, which was owned by Rangers’ then chairman Sir David Murray, as it dropped from 39,000ft above Lyon, in France.

The plane struck the runway and erupted into flames, killing captain David Saunders and co-pilot Dan Worley as the cockpit was ripped from the jet.

Miraculously, Mr Coulthard, his then-partner the American model Heidi Wichlinski, and his personal trainer Andy Matthews escaped relatively unscathed, with the F1 star merely suffering a broken rib.

Just five days later, the Kircudbrightshire-born racer was back in the driving seat to compete in the Barcelona Grand Prix, even securing second place. 

But Coulthard admitted that his brush with death had a profound impact long after he had crossed the finish line.

Speaking on the Pitlane Life Lessons podcast, he said: ‘Knowing that two families’ lives had been changed forever – they were fathers, they were husbands, they were sons – it was horrible, absolutely horrible.’

Racing driver David Coulthard and former girlfriend Heidi Wichlinski

The plane that was carrying Mr Coulthard and Ms Heidi Wichlinski at Satolas airport in Lyon,  France, where it crashed in 2000, killing the pilot David Saunders and co-pilot Daniel Worley

Forced to confront his own mortality, the F1 star stressed that the crash transformed his attitude to his career and personal life entirely.

Mr Coulthard said: ‘What that did do was make me grow the f*** up,

‘I think I’d just turned 30 and I was living the comforts of being well paid as a Formula 1 driver, jumping on private planes and all the good things […] I think I was getting a little bit spoiled without realising it.’

He added: ‘That was a massive kick up the ass to slow down, not on the race track, be a bit more aware of decisions I was making and get rid of the “I want this, make it happen now” attitude.’

The athlete explained that he discovered a newfound appreciation for his time, and drive to succeed on the racing track.

‘That was a defining moment where I thought that there would be no compromise,’ he said. ‘I decided that, if something didn’t feel right for me then I was going to challenge it.’

This attitude shift saw the Scot end his relationship with Ms Wichlinski and stop accommodating unnecessary distractions to please others.

The racing ace recalled: ‘I’d go and hibernate in the mountains in my chalet in Switzerland, and didn’t go home to Scotland for Christmas like I’d done previously.’

He continued: ‘Instead of going to training camps, they were done in the comfort of my own home. I just became more time aware.’

Mr Coulthard stressed: ‘It’s all eyes on the prize, and understanding that time passes and you might only get one chance to get it right.’

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Scots F1 legend David Coulthard says surviving a fatal plane crash jolted him out of playboy lifestyle

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