David Coulthard and Michael Schumacher were two of the most formidable drivers of their generation.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, McLaren and Ferrari were the heavyweights on the F1 grid.
David Coulthard’s teammate Mika Hakkinen won the 1998 and 1999 world championships before Michael Schumacher’s dominance over the sport began.
The German would go on to win five successive titles at the turn of the century, partnered by Rubens Barrichello who helped Ferrari dominate the Constructors’ Championship standings too.
However, the controversy that exists in Formula 1 today isn’t anything new.
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris are just the latest title challengers to clash on the track, however, occasionally that frustration boils over to when drivers are outside of the car.
Coulthard was speaking to The Red Flags Podcast about one particular clash with Schumacher during the 1998 season.
Murray Walker described the crash in Belgium as ‘terrible’ after both drivers were involved in a huge collision.
Why Michael Schumacher once tried to fight David Coulthard at the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix
Coulthard and Schumacher clashed at the beginning of the race in Spa, and speaking about the incident, the former McLaren driver recalls: “I remember, there was a wall of McLaren mechanics between me and him.
“One of those mechanics, his name was Steve Morrow, sadly he’s no longer with us, but his nickname was Forklift and anyone who knows what a forklift is, he was a big guy.
“I’m thinking, hey Michael, I had my helmet on, and I remember shouting back at him. He’s shouting at me, we’re you trying to f—— kill me?
“And I’m shouting back at him, you ran into the back of me! It was an aggressive exchange rather than I’m going to run away.
READ MORE: Why David Coulthard once said Michael Schumacher ‘wasn’t the best driver’ despite winning F1 title that year
“I’m not a fighter and I don’t think Michael would have fought. I think he would have got a hold of me by the scruff of the neck and we would have exchanged our opinions.
“But look, he was an amazing champion and this was an unfortunate blip in our relationship.
“We kissed and made up and what it has done is guarantee me a place in the Schumacher documentary and it always gets brought up every year we go to Spa!”
Max Verstappen compared to Michael Schumacher on his way to winning another F1 world championship
Schumacher was relentless and while he was involved in some controversial moments, this incident wasn’t anybody’s fault.
Conditions were treacherous and after a serious pile-up on the opening lap, the race restarted an hour later.
Coulthard knew Schumacher was approaching him later in the race and slowed down to let him past.
However, he didn’t move off the racing line and due to the spray created by his car, Schumacher drove into the back of him unsighted and both cars were out of the race.
READ MORE: David Coulthard sends Michael Schumacher warning to Ferrari after signing Lewis Hamilton for next season
Schumacher missed out on a chance to overtake Hakkinen in the championship that day, although the Finn won the title by 14 points at the end of the season, meaning even if Schumacher had won in Belgium, it wouldn’t have made any difference at the end of the campaign.
Verstappen has been compared to Schumacher and is on his way to matching his incredible racing record.
However, despite his aggressive encounters with some of his F1 rivals, he’s yet to try and fight anyone in the pit lane.
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