Coulthard flags flaw in McLaren’s team‑order communication

David Coulthard has weighed in on McLaren’s team‑order saga, focusing on a detail often missed: who actually tells the driver to hold position. He says letting race engineers issue such orders weakens the driver‑engineer bond and that senior management should convey them instead.

Why it matters:

• Trust between driver and engineer is crucial; a broken bond can cost valuable seconds on a lap.
• Clear hierarchy prevents mixed signals under pressure, cutting costly strategic errors.

The details:

• Coulthard says the driver‑engineer bond, exemplified by Will Joseph and Tom Stallard, must stay free of position‑holding orders, which belong to senior staff.
• He compares the scenario to soldiers in a trench needing a single command, not a whispered instruction from a comrade.
• Hiring ex‑Red Bull strategist Will Courtenay as sporting director could move order‑giving to the team principal.

What's next:

• Should McLaren follow Coulthard’s advice, race‑order calls will come from the team principal or sporting director.
• This shift could restore cockpit confidence and set a template for other teams wrestling with internal order protocols.
• All eyes will be on the next Grand Prix to see if the new communication line boosts results.