Lewis Hamilton’s place among Formula 1’s immortals is not up for debate – but whether the seven-time world champion is still operating at his absolute peak very much is, according to David Coulthard.
In a candid and knowingly provocative assessment, the former F1 race winner has suggested that Hamilton’s greatest days may be behind him, even as he acknowledged the controversy such a claim is bound to stir.
Coulthard was asked to crown the greatest Formula 1 world champion during an episode of The Red Flags Podcast, tasked with narrowing a field that spanned the sport’s entire history.
Legends such as Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Juan Manuel Fangio and Sir Jackie Stewart were all weighed up – before the final decision came down to a modern-day duel between Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
A Generational Choice
The Scot’s verdict was clear.
“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,” Coulthard said.
While he praised Hamilton’s achievements, Coulthard pointed to a subtle shift in energy and 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.”
‘Controversial for a loser like me to say that’
The most pointed part of Coulthard’s argument came when he addressed Hamilton’s recent on-track form – particularly in comparison with his team-mates.
After losing the 2021 title to Verstappen, Hamilton expected to rebound, but regulation changes in 2022 and Mercedes’ struggles blunted that comeback. His move to Ferrari in 2025 opened another chapter, one that has demanded adaptation rather than immediate domination.
It is within that context that Coulthard delivered his most contentious view.
“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,” he admitted.
Coulthard argued that the sport’s true greats measure themselves first and foremost against those closest to them.
“But it just feels the greats match their team-mates or beat their team-mates,” he added. “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].”
For Coulthard, sentiment cannot override the sport’s most basic metrics.
“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,” he said.
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“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.”
Whether Coulthard’s assessment proves prescient or premature remains to be seen.
What is certain is that Hamilton will hear such doubts clearly – and if history has taught Formula 1 anything, it is that writing off the sport’s 105-time Grand Prix winner has rarely been a safe bet.
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