David Coulthard may have dropped an implicit hint that he will walk away from
Formula 1 at the end of the 2008 campaign.
The Red Bull Racing ace has hitherto repeatedly denied that he is ready to hang up his helmet – even though he is now in his 15th season in the top flight – though he did seem in reflective mood following his rostrum finish in the Canadian Grand Prix last time out [see separate story –
click here].
Moreover, German magazine
Auto Motor und Sport has claimed that ‘only a miracle' will now prevent the Milton Keynes-based outfit from promoting rising
Scuderia Toro Rosso star
Sebastian Vettel to the senior team line-up next year, alongside Coulthard's current team-mate
Mark Webber who, until the Scot's podium in Montreal just under two weeks ago, had registered all 15 of RBR's 2008 points to-date.
Asked about the speculation, Coulthard would only reply that he had ‘plans for the future', adding that it was unlikely he would move to another F1 team. The 37-year-old – the oldest of the current crop of drivers on the starting grid – has competed for
Williams,
McLaren and RBR over the course of his 235 grands prix in the uppermost echelon.
He also sought to play down the likelihood of following friend and 1997 F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve across to NASCAR – or any other form of racing for that matter. Coulthard dropped in on
Red Bull's NASCAR operation at Dover's Monster Mile back at the beginning of June.
“I doubt it would satisfy me,” the 13-time grand prix winner stressed. “After
F1, everything else is a step down.”
Two suggested possibilities for the Twynholm-born ace include a management role at RBR and a spot as an expert pundit for the
BBC's F1 coverage in 2009.
