Former F1 driver David Coulthard “It is foolish to say that the car is responsible for Verstappen’s success”[F1-Gate.com]

Former F1 driver David Coulthard says it is ‘silly’ to attribute Max Verstappen’s success ‘because of cars’.

Whether it’s Lewis Hamilton’s title success, Michael Schumacher’s success, or Max Verstappen’s second straight victory, the general opinion of critics is that those drivers won because ‘the car was good’”.

David Coulthard, who has 246 starts and 13 wins in F1, battles Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, is now an analyst for Viaplay and Channel4.

David Coulthard says during his years at the wheel he has learned that it is not easy to win “even with a winning car”, and he tells FORMULA1 Magazine what the difference is between a good driver and a world champion.

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, this is the third time Max has been considered one of the best. We don’t need a title, ” said David Coulthard.

“Max is already one of the great drivers and to claim he achieved this because he has 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 he wins regardless of what we say or what anyone else says say. It’s a manufacturing machine. It’s amazing.”

But that’s an opinion on the easy criticism and a good car is still required to win a title in F1. As examples, David Coulthard cites Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

“Maybe Lewis was a nine-time champion instead of a seven-time champion. At the same time, he was often in a good car, there was no driver like Alonso.”

Fernando Alonso also won two consecutive titles in 2005 and 2006, but like Max Verstappen now, nobody thought it would end.

“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. This was followed by wrong choices.

So, 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 is 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