He was runner-up in the 2001 Driver’s Championship with Williams before driving for McLaren and Red Bull.
David turned down the new Top Gear job in favour of commentating for Channel 4, the home of free-to-air F1 with live coverage of 10 Grand Prix and highlights of every race.
Do you prefer driving or commentating ?
Driving. What’s the worst that can happen in a commentary box? Someone disagrees with me? Something falls on my foot? Driving a car at 200mph is more exhilarating.
Chris Evans or Jeremy Clarkson?
Ha-ha. I think I’ll take Chris Evans for the radio, and that other guy, what’s his name, Clarkson? He can do the cars.
Do the drivers get looked after in F1?
They’re like lightbulbs that get screwed in for a while, but they know that when a brighter bulb comes along they’ll get unscrewed and discarded.
They make fortunes, so shouldn’t they just suck that up?
They have done for years. They’re not asking for more money, just a bigger say in how the sport is run.
What’s their beef?
They feel their opinions don’t count and the sport isn’t advancing as it should. I agree with them.
So, formula 1 is going backwards?
Imagine I took away your laptop and replaced it with a typewriter. You wouldn’t be pleased, would you? That’s what’s happening in Formula 1. Human beings want faster, bigger, better, but F1 fans aren’t getting that just now.
What’s the problem?
Well, in everything apart from tyres there is competition – a chassis war, an engine war, etc. The best gets used. But the drivers are all forced to use the same tyre manufacturer. They wear out easily and they slow the race down with pit stops. Why?
Who’ll be remembered more – Jackie Stewart or Lewis Hamilton?
I guess because of the internet and modern global media coverage the history books will remember Lewis Hamilton more. But they are both great.
Are you a fan of social media?
It’s great as a weapon of defence but not so clever as a weapon of attack.
You have 24 hours to live. How do you spend the time?
Although I live in Monaco, a large part of my heart is still in the Dumfries area where I was born, so I’d take the family back there and just look at the scenery. No selfie, no grand gesture. I’d be happy to end it there.
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