Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard believes that Max Verstappen can already be counted among the greatest drivers of all time. With three titles under his belt and ranking third in the list of most victories, the Dutch driver’s prowess is undeniable. However, the 26-year-old driver still faces a significant amount of criticism. Coulthard acknowledges that there is still a lot of ‘underlying hatred’ towards him.
On social media, there are plenty of ‘fans’ who seize every opportunity to drag Max Verstappen through the mud, Coulthard observes. This was painfully evident after the crash between Verstappen and Lando Norris during the Austrian Grand Prix, which made it clear that not everyone is a fan of the three-time world champion.
‘Searching for Excuses’
According to David Coulthard, who himself drove for Red Bull for four years, Verstappen has long since proven himself as one of the greatest drivers in history. “One hundred percent,” he responded when asked in the Beyond the Grid podcast whether the Dutchman is now ‘a legend of the sport’. “There are people who really have an underlying hatred towards him and his achievements. They are just trying to find excuses by saying things like ‘well, he has always been in the best car’.”
“All Formula 1 drivers are good,” the Scot explained. “All footballers are good and all tennis players are good. But we want to see exceptional. And it is precisely the drivers who are exceptional who end up in the fastest cars. They find their way around the problems. Of course, they are not flawless, they are human. But their book of excuses is very thin. It’s maybe just one piece of paper. Mine was more of a novel,” joked the former Red Bull driver.
