Coulthard lauds Verstappen for Imola win, terms Piastri as favourite among McLaren pair
Formula One may be entering a new race weekend in Monaco on Friday, but the crucial turning moment of the Imola Grand Prix a few days ago still lingers on the back of several minds, even of F1 pundit and former driver, David Coulthard.
The overtake that reigning champion Max Verstappen made on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was one for the history books.
“Imola, for me, was confirmation of why he is the world champion,” said Coulthard, who was once at the helm of Red Bull himself, back in the early 2000s.
“Max is the driver of this generation right now. The fact that Max is still within that distance as we come to Monaco is all credit to his driving skills.
“You don’t have to be a Max Verstappen fan to be impressed with his performance,” he said.
Red Bull’s first-ever podium finisher lauded Verstappen’s ‘phenomenal’ outing at the historic Italian circuit, hinting that McLaren’s bid to snatch both titles might not be as straightforward as it hoped.
With Piastri and teammate Lando Norris often matching each other on pace, it gives the Dutchman the right amount of space to squeeze through and leapfrog the McLaren duo.
“When you have two guys going head-to-head, it’s always going to end with somebody not being happy,” said the Scot, who was with McLaren for almost nine seasons (1996-2004).
“McLaren has produced a very good racing car, and they’ve got two very good Formula One drivers. If they cannot win the World Championship, it will be because Red Bull has out-developed them during the course of the year.
“There’s going to be some coming together between the two McLaren drivers at some point. But if Max is continually there, getting podiums and wins occasionally, then it makes it more challenging for the management of McLaren.”
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Only seven races into the 2025 season, a tight fight for the top spot is looming at large, between Verstappen and within the Papaya pair. And Coulthard believes it’s the championship leader Piastri who has the best chance at snatching the crown.
“From what it looked like, Lando [Norris] had the upper hand last year, but it really looks as if Oscar is the one that stepped up the most from last year,” said the 13-time Grand Prix winner.
“I am surprised that Lando has not been looking as settled. He is the more experienced driver. Oscar was a little bit in the shadow of Lando and outright performance, but he’s picked that up.”
“When you have two guys going head-to-head, it’s always going to end with somebody not being happy,” said Couthard, who was with McLaren for almost nine seasons (1996-2004).
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
“When you have two guys going head-to-head, it’s always going to end with somebody not being happy,” said Couthard, who was with McLaren for almost nine seasons (1996-2004).
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Coulthard attributed Piastri’s improvements to the work he’s done to truly understand the car and exploit maximum performance. The talent is there, and he’s being guided well (by former F1 driver Mark Webber).
Piastri’s manager, Webber, has been instrumental in moulding the young Australian, who is only three seasons into his FI career. With the experience he gains every weekend, Coulthard is convinced that the 24-year-old has what it takes.
“If Oscar does in the second half like he did in the first half, he’s a champion.”
(Formula 1 will be broadcast LIVE on FanCode in India)