David Coulthard has revealed that he battled bulimia as a teenager in motorsport, describing it as a “necessary evil” to stay competitive in motor racing.
Speaking on the High Performance podcast, the former McLaren and Red Bull driver said the disorder stemmed from the strict weight demands of junior categories.
Coulthard: 'Whatever dinner I'd had was not staying inside'
“I didn’t see it as pressure. I saw it as a necessary thing to make weight,” Coulthard explained, linking it to the extreme weight control seen in horse racing and boxing.
“If I was overweight, then whatever dinner I’d had that night was not going to stay inside me.”
Coulthard kept it quiet: 'It was a compromise'
Coulthard detailed how, between the ages of 11 and 16, weight regulations meant he often carried ballast in the early years but later had to shed kilos to match rivals in lighter classes.
“I was tall for my generation of drivers… the weight is accommodating for an 11-year-old,” he said.
Weighing himself twice a day, Coulthard would monitor his race-week prep days in advance.
He admitted the issue was never discussed with anyone at the time. “It was a compromise,” he reflected, and an essential at that, in order to remain competitive in the sport.
Popular on GPBlog
'Ex-Red Bull team boss Horner considers return to Formula 1 - In this role!'
Red Bull makes tough decision and withdraws from next race
How are Max Verstappen and the other drivers enjoying the summer break?
