David Coulthard has sparked debate regarding the trajectory of Lewis Hamilton‘s career decline, suggesting the former world champion may no longer be performing at his highest level. Speaking on a recent podcast, Coulthard compared Hamilton to other iconic Formula 1 drivers and highlighted signs that indicate the British racer’s dominance could be fading.
Coulthard Chooses Verstappen Over Hamilton in Greatest Champion Debate
During his appearance on The Red Flags Podcast, David Coulthard was asked to name his top Formula 1 champion from a prestigious list that included Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Sir Jackie Stewart. As the shortlist narrowed to Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, Coulthard revealed his preference for the current Red Bull driver, expanding on his reasoning for making this controversial selection.
“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,”
David Coulthard explained.
Examining Hamilton’s Recent Performance and Career Challenges
Coulthard pointed out the generational shift between Hamilton and Verstappen, stressing how each represents different eras of motorsport. He emphasized what he sees as a contrast in personalities and on-track presence between the two drivers.
“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.”
— David Coulthard, former Formula 1 driver
Following his narrow loss to Verstappen in the 2021 championship, Hamilton aimed for a comeback in 2022. However, the introduction of new technical regulations and a less dominant Mercedes car made it hard for Hamilton to reach his former performance levels. These challenges marked a turning point in Hamilton’s career, where results began to reflect a potential downward trend.
Adapting to Change: Hamilton Moves to Ferrari
Looking for new opportunities, Lewis Hamilton made a significant decision by joining Ferrari in 2025. This move has required him to adjust both to a new team and a different environment. The shift raises fresh questions about whether Hamilton can reclaim his position at the top, or if his best years are now behind him.
“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,”
David Coulthard added.
Comparisons with Team-Mates Raise Doubts
The scrutiny around Hamilton’s career has intensified with his performance against younger team-mates, particularly George Russell during their time together at Mercedes and now against Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. Some observers, including Coulthard, have pointed out that Hamilton has not consistently outperformed these rivals, a hallmark previously associated with the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history.
“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].”
“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.”
Coulthard Questions Hamilton’s Ultimate Speed
The essential measurements in Formula 1, as Coulthard emphasizes, are qualifying pace and victory on race day. Analyzing recent statistics, the British driver’s outright speed appears to have diminished compared to younger competition like Verstappen, although observers still hold immense respect for Hamilton’s legacy and achievements.
“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.”
— David Coulthard, former Formula 1 driver
Looking Ahead: What the Future Holds for Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton’s journey continues with Ferrari as he strives to assert himself alongside notable names like Charles Leclerc. The debate about the Lewis Hamilton career decline is likely to persist as long as contrasting results with younger talents such as Max Verstappen stay in the spotlight. For now, the motorsport community closely watches to see if Hamilton can confound his critics and reignite his rivalry with F1’s new generation of stars.
