Former Red Bull driver David Coulthard scrutinizes the current generation of drivers. According to the Scot, Max Verstappen entered the premier class as a ‘complete’ driver, while there is still room for improvement for Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris. Coulthard then compares Leclerc’s mistakes to those of an untrained puppy.
Charles Leclerc is often praised for his pure speed, and the Monegasque driver has already secured 26 pole positions. However, in comparison, Leclerc has only crossed the finish line first in a race eight times. David Coulthard believes he knows why there is such a significant difference between Leclerc’s poles and victories, especially compared to 62-time Grand Prix winner Max Verstappen.”I believe Max Verstappen arrived as the finished product, albeit with a few rough edges, when he came to F1. For others, however, it took a bit longer,” begins Coulthard in his analysis, on the Formula For Success podcast. The Scotsman then likens Leclerc to a four-legged friend. “Charles is still like a puppy that occasionally pees on the carpet. But once (Leclerc) has ironed out all those little mistakes, I think we’re heading towards a golden era of F1.”
There’s Still Room for Norris to Grow
Leclerc is known for making mistakes at crucial moments, such as when the Monegasque crashed out of the race during the 2022 French Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver was at that time still embroiled in a title fight with Verstappen. This season, the honor goes to Lando Norris, but Coulthard also sees room for improvement in the McLaren driver.
“(Verstappen and Norris) are both very kind, normal people outside of the race car. Their own racing personalities, of course, are in the car and Max uses his elbows, probably a bit more than Lando,” says the Scot. “But this is all part of… how old is Lando? 26 or 27 years old. In many ways, they are still boys. I felt like I figured out what life was about around my thirties, and that coincided with my best performances.” Norris will turn 25 on November 13 this year.
