Coulthard Picks Verstappen Over Hamilton, Citing Perceived Decline

Former F1 driver David Coulthard has named Max Verstappen as his "greatest" world champion, choosing him over Lewis Hamilton. Coulthard's reasoning hinges on his belief that the seven-time champion is no longer at his absolute peak, citing Hamilton's recent struggles to consistently outperform his teammates as evidence. He argues that while Hamilton's legacy is incredible, Verstappen's current form and potential for growth give him the edge.

Why it matters:

Coulthard's comments add a significant voice to the ongoing debate about Hamilton's legacy as he prepares for a high-profile move to Ferrari. The opinion from a 13-time race winner and long-time F1 pundit carries weight, challenging the narrative of Hamilton's undisputed dominance and framing the 2025 season as a critical test for the Briton.

The details:

• The Verdict: On the Red Flags Podcast, Coulthard ultimately chose Verstappen over legends like Senna and Prost, stating "every generation should be better."
• Teammate Battles: Coulthard pointed to the stopwatch and results as the ultimate metrics. He noted that Hamilton "didn't do that with George [Russell]" and it "doesn't feel like he's done that with Charles [Leclerc]," implying a dip in form.
• Verstappen's Trajectory: In contrast, Coulthard described Verstappen as "grounded" and felt he is "still developing" with "more to come," suggesting his peak is yet to arrive.
• The Caveat: Coulthard was careful to qualify his statement, repeatedly saying "Hamilton at his peak" would be a much closer comparison, but he's "not sure that he is at his peak anymore."

What's next:

All eyes will be on Hamilton's performance with Ferrari in 2025. His on-track battles with Charles Leclerc will be scrutinized more than ever, serving as a real-world test of Coulthard's theory. If Hamilton can regain his form and consistently beat a top-tier teammate, he can silence these critiques; if not, Coulthard's assessment may gain more traction.