Former F1 driver David Coulthard says it’s ‘silly’ to say Max Verstappen’s success ‘because of cars’.
Whether it was Lewis Hamilton’s title success, Michael Schumacher’s success, or Max Verstappen’s second straight win, the general opinion of critics is that those drivers won because ‘the car was good’. ”.
David Coulthard, who has 246 starts and 13 victories in F1, battling both Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, is now an analyst for Viaplay and Channel4.
David Coulthard says during his years at the wheel he’s learned that winning is not easy “even with a winning car”, and tells FORMULA1 Magazine what the difference is between a good driver and a world champion. Told.
David Coulthard believes Max Verstappen is “already one of the greatest drivers”.
“Just as Lewis doesn’t need nine world titles to be considered one of the greatest drivers in the sport, it’s the third time Max has been considered one of the greatest. We don’t need a title,” said David Coulthard.
“Max is already one of the great drivers and to claim that he achieved this because he had a good car is absurd.”
“At the end of the day, none of his teammates could match him. Max is a beast on the track and wins no matter what we say or what anyone else says. It’s a manufacturing machine. He’s awesome.”
But that’s an opinion on the easy criticism and a good car is still a requirement to win a title in F1. As examples, David Coulthard cites Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
“Lewis might have been a nine-time champion instead of a seven-time champion. At the same time, he was often in a good car, a driver like Alonso was not.”
Fernando Alonso also won two titles in a row in 2005 and 2006, but like Max Verstappen now, no one thought it would stop.
“Alonso should have had more than one title,” said David Coulthard, claiming Alonso “definitely still has the skills”.
Fernando Alonso moved to McLaren after winning two consecutive titles with Renault. Wrong choices followed.
Therefore, David Coulthard argues that Max Verstappen’s second straight win does not mean the ‘Verstappen era’ has arrived or long-term hegemony.
“The Verstappen era could end with two titles,” said Coulthard.
“Not because he’s not a good driver, but he may not have the car to win titles in the coming seasons.”
“No one knows that in advance.”
But unlike Fernando Alonso, and much like Lewis Hamilton won six of his seven titles with Mercedes, Verstappen has a long-term contract with Red Bull until 2028.
Category: F1 / Max Verstappen / red bull / David Coulthard