Coulthard proclaims modern F1 the ‘Verstappen era’

David Coulthard has declared that modern-day F1 is currently in its “Max Verstappen era”, with the Dutchman having claimed the past four F1 drivers’ championships.

The Scotsman, who raced for Red Bull from 2005 until his retirement at the end of the 2008 season, highlighted what sets the 27-year-old apart from his contemporaries.

Having won 13 grands prix across his own 15-year career in the so-called pinnacle of motorsport, Coulthard believes it is the ability to win over and over that enshrines the “truly exceptional” athletes in greatness.

Whilst Verstappen cantered to his middle two crowns, in 2022 and 2023, with relative ease, they are bookended by considerably more hard-fought titles.

To Coulthard, battling through adversity and still attaining success is a key ingredient to his central assertion, after Verstappen fought against the resurgent forces of McLaren and Ferrari in 2024 and still prevailed in the drivers’ standings.

Whilst Red Bull did ultimately falter on the constructors’ front, falling behind the two aforementioned teams, the 53-year-old nonetheless lauded Verstappen’s performances, in what many consider a greater championship victory than his 2021 title.

“These are the exceptional performances we expect from sportsmen and women on this level,” Coulthard said on Viaplay documentary Verstappen: Lion Unleashed 4.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s F1 or football, or tennis, the truly exceptional sports people do it again, and again, and again.

“Many people can have that one grand slam victory or one grand prix victory, but to do it against adversity is really what has made this the Max Verstappen era of F1.”