In the world of tabloids, the story goes that it was Coulthard who introduced Newey to Christian Horner, forming the powerful trio that is pictured above in the Red Bull pit garage in Miami. Coulthard had the privilege of driving Adrian’s cars at both Williams and McLaren, creating a lasting bond and mutual respect between the two.
The Miami GP was the place to be this past weekend, with VIPs, ex-drivers, current drivers, and plenty of eye-catching individuals. While casually walking through the F1 paddock at the Hard Rock Stadium, I happened to run into DC, who graciously shared his thoughts on the hottest topic in F1: What lies ahead for Adrian Newey?
Coulthard ventured to say, “First and foremost, nothing lasts forever. Adrian has been with the team for almost 18 amazing years, achieving tremendous success. However, at 65 years old, he decided that he needs to redirect his energy towards other ventures. Despite this, he will always remain a good friend. It will be intriguing to see if he takes a short break or joins another team. Many people believe and expect that he may end up at Ferrari, which, in my opinion, would be the perfect way to complete his extraordinary career.”
Although Williams has made a weak offer to Newey, the smart money is on him joining Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Maranello as early as next year. According to Italian media, rumors are circulating that the Ferrari boss traveled to London earlier this month to finalize a deal, which is expected to be officially announced “the week after the Miami GP.”
When asked if he provided Vasseur with Newey’s contact information, just as he did with Horner almost two decades ago, Coulthard replied, “They all know how to get in touch with Adrian. However, back in those days, Christian didn’t have the same personal connection with Adrian that I did. Naturally, I was more than happy to assist in any way I could.”
McLaren chief Zak Brown predicted that the departure of Newey is just the beginning of the changes happening at Red Bull following the scandal involving Horner’s inappropriate messages. This incident caused a lot of chaos within the team at the beginning of the season. Now, the question arises: Will Max Verstappen be the next to leave the team that made him the F1 World Champion?
In response to this speculation, Coulthard stated that Verstappen has a contract with the team and there is no reason for him to seek opportunities elsewhere. Typically, drivers do not leave winning situations; they only leave when they feel that they are not being given the chance to succeed.
An example of a driver leaving a successful team is Lewis Hamilton’s decision to move from Mercedes to Ferrari. Hamilton believes that this move presents a better opportunity for him to win his eighth F1 world title. Despite winning all seven of his titles with Mercedes, Hamilton has not won a Grand Prix since 2021.
Before Coulthard focused on his own activities in the sunny city of Miami, he was asked about the progress of his son Duncan. This question brought a huge smile to Coulthard’s face as he revealed that his son will be racing in Formula 4 next year. It seems that the Coulthard family is fully supporting Duncan’s racing career.
When asked if he will be backing his son, Coulthard responded positively, stating that he will support him as long as Duncan remains committed. While Coulthard believes that his son has talent, he acknowledges that ultimately, performance on the racetrack is what truly matters.
Coulthard had a successful career in F1 from 1994 to 1998, making 26 Grand Prix starts. He stood on the podium 62 times, with 13 of those being victories. During his time at McLaren, he played a key role in helping the team win the F1 Constructors’ Championship, particularly alongside his teammate Mika Hakkinen. (Interview conducted by Nasir Hameed in Miami)