Nyorai mberi kweiyi ndima - Muna 1996, Coulthard akabatana nemutyairi ane ruzivo Mika Häkkinen kuMcLaren, uye akatenda kuti paive nemukana wekukunda mijaho, kunyangwe dambudziko reWorld Championship raive risingaite kusvika 1997 kana 1998. Mwaka wake wakatanga zvakashata; akatambura nenyaya yekumhanyisa muAustralia, kusanganisira kurovera nemutyairi weJordani Martin Brundle padanho rekutanga. Coulthard akabuda muBrazil uye akapedza ari kunze kwemapoinzi muArgentina
. Zvisinei, Coulthard akawana nzvimbo yepamusorosoro paNürburgring uye akatungamirira mujaho muSan Marino asati atambura kukundikana kwehydraulic.