Coulthard ranks Red Bull’s all-time top-three F1 drivers

Former F1 driver David Coulthard has revealed his picks and ranking for the top three drivers in Red Bull Racing’s history.

A 13-time Grand Prix winner with Williams and McLaren, Coulthard was also Red Bull’s inaugural driver in 2025, the Scot spending four seasons with the Milton Keynes-based outfit and racing alongside Christian Klien, Robert Doornbos and Mark Webber.

The 53-year-old commentator has put together his own hierarchy that reflects his experience and deep insight into the drivers who have shaped Red Bull's legacy in the sport, from its early days on the grid to its current dominance.

Unsurprisingly, Coulthard’s clear verdict places three-time world champion Max Verstappen on the top step of the podium, ahead of Sebastian Vettel.

The Scot emphasized that while Vettel's four championships are undeniably impressive, Verstappen's sustained excellence sets him apart.

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"That has to be Max, Max and Max,” he told Motorsport.com’s Dutch affiliate.

"You can't take anything away from Seb's four world titles. But if you look at his career as a whole, Seb wasn't as impressive at the end as he was when he won his world titles.

“Look at Michael Schumacher at Mercedes, he too was not as impressive in that period as he was in his Ferrari days.

“It shows that everyone has their own time, but I think it's obvious to put Max first. Seb is second with his four world titles.”

For the third spot on the podium, Coulthard opted for Mark Webber over Daniel Ricciardo.

Webber, who drove for Red Bull for seven seasons and finished third in the F1 championship on three occasions, earned Coulthard’s respect for his tenacity and competitive spirit.

"In terms of P3, I would say Mark Webber ahead of Daniel Ricciardo,” he said.

“The latter is partly related to the fact that Webber did not let himself be walked over, and bit back with ‘not bad for a No.2 driver’.”

Coulthard’s comment is a reference to the 2010 British Grand Prix, when Red Bull opted to assign an updated front wing to Vettel versus Webber, only for the Aussie to triumph in the race with the older-spec element and mock his team with the sarcastic radio message.

As Red Bull Racing continues to dominate Formula 1, the legacy of its drivers will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion for years to come.

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