David Coulthard revealed that back in his McLaren days, he had the chance to be a \u201cspace tourist\u201d.<\/p>\n
That offer worth $20 million was also extended to then team-mate Mika Hakkinen \u2013 courtesy of McLaren<\/a> sponsor West \u2013 but after the training was complete, they both turned and said thanks, but no thanks.<\/p>\n $20 million \u2018space tourist\u2019 deal with McLaren sponsor failed to take off<\/p>\n Tobacco brand West was a long-time title sponsor of the McLaren Formula 1 team. That alliance ran from 1997-2005, producing what became an iconic silver and black livery.<\/p>\n For five of those seasons, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard formed the McLaren driver line-up. Hakkinen won his two World Championships in that period, the Finn claiming 1998 and 1999 Drivers\u2019 Championship glory.<\/p>\n During an appearance on the Red Flags podcast, Coulthard revealed that the pair of them had the chance to swap the race track for space. West were going to fund a deal with the Russian Space Agency to make Coulthard and Hakkinen space tourists, but both drivers agreed to pull the plug.<\/p>\n \u201cI had the chance to be a space tourist,\u201d Coulthard revealed.<\/p>\n \u201cWest were going to pay for Mika and I to go up there. And it was $20 million they prepared to pay the Russian agency.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd both Mika and I individually, having gone and done the training in Star City outside Moscow, we both went, \u2018Nah\u2026 Nah.’\u201d<\/p>\n It was pointed out to Coulthard that in his autobiography, he poured cold water on the physical demands of space travel, in terms of the G force experienced, following the training.<\/p>\n Put to him that he was unimpressed with the Russian astronauts, known as cosmonauts, Coulthard replied: \u201cYou just say as you find.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd of course, jet fighter pilots, when they pull sustained high G, that\u2019s incredible. But when it comes to going in a rocket into space, they don\u2019t really pull a lot of G.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd quite frankly, the only skill you need at that point is to fit yourself in a very small capsule for, you know, obviously they sit there for a while before the launch, but the actual launch into space is only a few minutes. So, you know, it\u2019s not doing a great deal.\u201d<\/p>\n More fun Formula 1 stories from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Coulthard tells the story of a rocky helicopter journey, featuring \u2018asleep\u2019 Lewis Hamilton<\/a><\/p>\n