David Coulthard Declares Max Verstappen His Greatest Champion, Citing Signs Lewis Hamilton May Be Past His Peak

Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has sparked considerable debate within the motorsport community by asserting that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton may no longer be operating at the zenith of his illustrious career. In a recent appearance on The Red Flags Podcast, Coulthard, a veteran of 15 Grand Prix victories, definitively chose three-time world champion Max Verstappen over Hamilton when tasked with identifying his ultimate Formula 1 champion, pointing to specific indicators he believes signify a shift in the competitive landscape.

Coulthard’s selection process on the podcast involved a meticulous whittling down of a distinguished list of motorsport legends. Alongside Hamilton and Verstappen, the initial contenders included iconic figures such as Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Sir Jackie Stewart. The ultimate choice between the two contemporary titans, Hamilton and Verstappen, hinged on Coulthard’s assessment of their current standing and perceived trajectory.

Explaining his rationale for choosing Verstappen, Coulthard articulated a philosophy rooted in the concept of evolutionary progress in sport. "I’m going to go with Max, and this won’t surprise some people who know me and like me and know me and dislike me, for the following reasons. I think that every generation should be better. That’s what evolution is," he stated. This perspective suggests an inherent expectation that each successive generation of elite athletes builds upon the achievements and capabilities of their predecessors, pushing the boundaries of performance.

Beyond this generational argument, Coulthard highlighted attributes he perceives in Verstappen that contribute to his current dominance. "I think that there’s a crossover of generations there, and Hamilton has been incredible. But there’s also a little bit of a disconnect in some ways. Max I find very grounded, if he’s here, it’s just Max, he’s present and we know when he’s doing his interviews and press conferences, if he’s not happy he says it and he’s not shy to say that. He owns his beliefs, whether he’s happy, whether he’s sad," Coulthard elaborated. This description paints a picture of Verstappen as an unvarnished, direct competitor, whose authenticity and mental fortitude are key components of his success.

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The core of Coulthard’s argument, however, pivoted on his assessment of Hamilton’s current performance relative to his historical peak. While acknowledging Hamilton’s "incredible" career, Coulthard expressed reservations. "So I’ll go with Verstappen because they’re very difficult to separate in terms of Hamilton at his peak, and I keep saying that because I’m not sure that he is at his peak anymore, controversial for a loser like me to dare to say that," he added, acknowledging the contentious nature of his viewpoint.

Hamilton’s journey since the dramatic conclusion of the 2021 season provides a crucial backdrop to Coulthard’s observations. That year, Hamilton, then chasing an unprecedented eighth World Championship title, was narrowly defeated by Verstappen in a highly controversial season finale at Abu Dhabi. The intensity of that championship battle, culminating in a last-lap overtake, marked a pivotal moment in both drivers’ careers.

Following this defeat, the 2022 season presented significant challenges for Hamilton and his Mercedes team. A sweeping change in technical regulations, particularly the introduction of ground-effect aerodynamics, did not align favorably with Mercedes’ W13 challenger. The car suffered from severe "porpoising" and a general lack of performance, which, combined with a car concept that reportedly did not suit Hamilton’s driving style as optimally as previous iterations, placed the Briton in an unfamiliar uphill battle. For the first time in his Formula 1 career, Hamilton completed a season without securing a single Grand Prix victory, finishing sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 240 points. His teammate, George Russell, who joined Mercedes in 2022, outscored Hamilton with 275 points and secured Mercedes’ sole victory of the season in Brazil, a statistic that aligns with Coulthard’s later comments regarding Hamilton’s performance relative to his teammates.

The 2023 season saw Mercedes make strides in understanding the new regulations, with the W14 proving more competitive than its predecessor, though still significantly adrift of Red Bull’s dominant RB19. Hamilton showed improved form, securing six podium finishes and ending the season in third place in the Drivers’ Championship with 234 points. Importantly, in 2023, Hamilton outscored Russell, who finished eighth with 175 points, though Russell did achieve a pole position in Singapore. This statistical nuance suggests that while Hamilton’s absolute performance in 2022 might have fueled Coulthard’s initial assessment, the 2023 season demonstrated a recovery in his relative performance against his teammate.

Looking ahead, Hamilton’s unexpected decision to move to Ferrari for the 2025 season adds another layer of complexity to the discussion of his peak. The seven-time champion will leave Mercedes after an immensely successful 12-year tenure, embarking on a new chapter with the sport’s most iconic team. This transition will require significant adaptation to a new environment, car philosophy, and team culture, particularly at a stage in his career where many drivers begin to consider retirement. Coulthard’s assessment touched upon this future dynamic as well.

"But it just feels the greats match their team-mates or beat their team-mates. And in the last couple of years, if I’m not mistaken, he didn’t do that with George [Russell]. And it doesn’t feel like he’s done that with Charles [Leclerc]," Coulthard asserted. While the comparison with Russell for "the last couple of years" holds true for 2022, the 2023 season saw Hamilton ahead. The comment regarding Charles Leclerc, however, is a forward-looking projection, as Hamilton has yet to share a garage with the Monegasque driver. Leclerc is currently firmly established as Ferrari’s leading driver, and the internal dynamic at Maranello will be a critical storyline in 2025.

Coulthard concluded his argument by emphasizing a fundamental, objective metric in Formula 1: "So if we put opinions to one side and we just use the two things that are ultimately important in Formula 1, it’s a stopwatch, and it’s a chequered flag. Everything else is opinion." He continued, "So the stopwatch gives you your qualifying position, as we know, chequered flag gives you the number-one trophy, and I think that the outright speed is maybe not there with Lewis anymore. But you’ve got to give him so much respect, but Max, it still feels like he’s developing, it still feels there’s more to come."

This assessment of "outright speed" and the comparison of developmental trajectories highlight a key differentiator for Coulthard. While Hamilton has achieved virtually every record in the sport, Coulthard perceives Verstappen as a driver still on an upward curve, with further potential yet to be realized. Verstappen’s current dominance, having secured three consecutive World Championships (2021, 2022, 2023) and consistently delivering performances that have left competitors trailing, provides substantial evidence for this view. His relentless pursuit of perfection and his ability to extract maximum performance from his Red Bull machinery, regardless of circuit or condition, underscore Coulthard’s belief in his ongoing development.

The debate over which driver stands as the "greatest" in Formula 1 history is a perennial one, often influenced by generational biases, subjective interpretations of skill, and the context of the era in which they competed. Coulthard’s intervention, particularly his direct assertion regarding Hamilton’s peak, adds a significant and provocative voice to this ongoing discussion, prompting fans and pundits alike to scrutinize the performances of two of the sport’s most formidable talents through a new lens.

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Jonas Leo

Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.

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