David Coulthard could announce his retirement from
Formula 1 today, ahead of what would then be the final British Grand Prix of his long and distinguished career in the top flight.
There has been much speculation of late over the experienced Scot's future, with persistent rumours that his seat at
Red Bull Racing is set to go the way of Red Bull-backed
Scuderia Toro Rosso ace
Sebastian Vettel in 2009, effectively leaving Coulthard out in the cold. What's more, at 37 the man from Twynholm is the oldest driver currently on the grand prix grid, having made his
F1 debut with Williams all the way back in 1994.
He has repeatedly re-iterated his love for the sport, but comments in the wake of his Montreal podium last month [see separate story –
click here] and subsequent remarks have led many to surmise that he is coming to terms with the fact that after no fewer than 13 victories, 62 rostrum finishes, twelve pole positions, 18 fastest laps and 533 points from 15 seasons spent in the uppermost echelon with
Williams, McLaren-Mercedes and current outfit RBR – making him the most successful British driver in F1 history, and fourth-most successful of all time, behind only multiple world champions
Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost and
Ayrton Senna – the 2008 campaign will be his last.
“The longest contract I have ever had in F1 has been a two-year contract,” Coulthard is quoted as having said by the
BBC. “Every other one has been a year-by-year deal, therefore you always have to think this might be the last time.
“It's relevant to ask the question because I'm the oldest driver and there is a lot of speculation about my future, but the age thing is not the factor for me. What is relevant is to ask if I deliver value and do I have the motivation? I do.
“I'm not looking back nostalgically to the days when I was 21 and had abs and was going out with whomever. I still wake up in the morning raring to go.
