Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has led the tributes to
David Coulthard, who has announced his retirement from
Formula 1 after 14 years of competition.
Horner helped revive Coulthard's career after he was dropped by McLaren-Mercedes at he end of the 2004 season, and while many believed his decision to join the fledgling ex-Jaguar team would mark the final chapter in a long career, he has been a constant figure in the upper half of the field for four more years.
Indeed, Coulthard led the team to a number of landmark results, including scoring points on the team's debut in 2005 and recording their first podium at Monaco in 2006.
Now though, Coulthard will call time on his glittering career, one that has made the 37 year-old one of the most experienced Formula 1 drivers of all time.
Seeing out the season for the Austrian-backed outfit before assuming a developmental role, Horner has praised Coulthard's determination, professional nature and ability to act as a team player.
"Working with David has been an absolute pleasure and his contribution to the team over the past four seasons has been significant. He is a
consummate professional and I think that one of the key elements to the length of his career is the dedication he has applied and the commitment he has shown to the team. He has demonstrated that he is a real team player, a fact reinforced by the statistic that he has only driven for two other
F1 teams in his career.
“To date, he has won thirteen grands prix and there could have been many more if you count the near misses and the ones he gifted to other drivers! He scored our first point, our first podium and was the first of our drivers to lead a grand prix. Above all, he is a gentleman and I regard him as a good friend.
