Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Kwemwaka wa1996, Coulthard akabatana nemutyairi ane ruzivo Mika Häkkinen kuMcLaren, uye akatenda kuti paive nemukana wekukunda mijaho, kunyangwe kupokana neWorld Championship kwaive kusingaite kusvika 1997 kana 1998. Mwaka wake wakatanga zvakashata; akatambura nenyaya yekumhanyisa muAustralia, kusanganisira kurovera nemutyairi weJordani Martin Brundle padanho rekutanga. Coulthard akatendeuka muBrazil uye akapedza ari kunze kwemapoinzi mu
Argentina. Zvisinei, Coulthard akawana nzvimbo yepamusorosoro paNürburgring uye akatungamirira mujaho muSan Marino asati atambura kukundikana kwehydraulic.