F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Coulthard declares Verstappen one of F1's all-time best

Former F1 driver turned commentator David Coulthard says that current world champion Max Verstappen has already proved to be among the sport's all-time greats, even though he's still just 24 years old and with 'a lot more to come'.

Coulthard said he had more than proved his towering talent with the way that he clinched the 2021 title with a daring do-or-die last lap pass at turn 5 in the final race of the season at the Yas Marina Circuit.

“I knew he would either crash and become World Champion, or catch up and become world champion," he said in a newly-released documentary by Viaplay, as reported by Motorsport.com this week.

“But I didn’t expect him to make his overtake so early," he admitted. "That just showed his fighting spirit: as soon as there’s a gap, even if it’s not really a gap, he goes for it."

Coulthard said that regardless of the controversy surrounding the end of the race and the much-criticised calls about the restart following a late safety car, Verstappen had proved himself more than worthy of taking the title.

“Lewis is a fantastic driver and deserved to win that race, but I also think Max deserved the title because of his fighting spirit.

“He managed to get inside Lewis’ head and Lewis knew he had to leave room. No other driver has that effect on Lewis," he explained. “That makes him a worthy champion in my eyes."

Coulthard - who completed 246 Grand Prix races beginning with Williams in 1994 and then moving to McLaren and Red Bull before retiring at the end of 2008 - had no doubt that Verstappen was on the list of the sport's greatest drivers.

The Dutch driver won the title with ten race wins in 2021, something only achieved by the sport's biggest names including Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and the legendary Michael Schumacher.

“All F1 drivers are good, just like all Premier League footballers are good. But it’s about finding the guys who are exceptional," Coulthard said. “He already is. Really.

“He is remarkably mature for his young age. Let’s not forget that he was 17 when he entered F1, and he won his first grand prix when he was 18. That he took that opportunity and triumphed makes him exceptional.

“I didn’t really feel mature until I was in my late twenties, and I think I was at my peak in my early thirties. That means there may be a lot more to come from Max!"

Red Bull have reached the same conclusion and signed Verstappen to a huge new contract that will keep him at the team until 2028 on an estimated £40 million a year, comparable only to seven-time champion Hamilton.

But Coulthard says that the acclaim, success and money haven't changed Verstapen's essential nature.

“If you run into him on the street he’s just an ordinary guy," he said. "That’s how he talks to you, he doesn't speak down like 'I am the world champion and multimillionaire'.

"We know all too well that fame and fortune can change people, but I don’t think he’s going to change," he added. "He’s so open to interacting with other people, he really doesn’t lose that.”

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.

Recent Posts

Aston Martin says performance shortfall led to Fallows exit

Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough has shed some light on why the team’s former…

3 hours ago

FIA clamps down on plank loophole after Red Bull complaint

The FIA has issued a pivotal Technical Directive to F1 teams ahead of this weekend’s…

5 hours ago

F1 drivers blindsided by race director Wittich’s sudden exit

The abrupt removal last week of FIA race director Niels Wittich with just three races…

6 hours ago

McLaren relaxes ‘papaya rules’: Norris and Piastri free to race

Oscar Piastri has confirmed that McLaren’s team orders—dubbed the "Papaya Rules"—have been largely relaxed, giving…

7 hours ago

Cheers to the forever young pure racer Jacques Laffite

The forever young Jacques Laffite turns 81 today, but the years haven't aged this pure…

9 hours ago

Las Vegas GP: Wednesday's build-up in pictures

The neon lights of Las Vegas are set to illuminate the Formula 1 world once…

9 hours ago