Coulthard insisted that, contrary to suggestions over the years, he has not allowed his career to drag on, but admitted that he felt now was the right time to hang up his helmet.
"I have always had a fairly realistic view on the career of a sportsman, how long it may last and the opportunities that are there for you," he explained, "I feel fulfilled in the opportunities I have had. I won't be looking back thinking 'if only.....', 'if only I had had a world championship-winning car'.
"I did have a world championship-winning car, I just didn't win it. But I won a number of grands prix and had a lot of fun along the way. As I just explained, the journey I started with
Red Bull will continue, but not as a grand prix driver, and that is something which I am entirely comfortable with. I am looking forward to the remaining races."
Coulthard now has just ten races left in his
F1 career, including the new events in Valencia and Singapore, but insists that, with the ultimate finishing line homing into sight, he will have no problem motivating himself for the challenge of keeping Red Bull Racing in the top four of the constructors' championship.
"If I thought that, I would be saying today that I would be stepping to one side [immediately]," he claimed, "That is the other good thing about making the decision, in that I have the motivation, I am enjoying the racing. I would hate to find myself in a situation where I wake up and think 'I do not want to go racing today'.
"I have seen it happen to other people I have been close to in the sport who have been in that situation. It may be something that never happens, but I just don't want to find myself in that situation. After 15 seasons, I think that's enough. The sport is in good hands with the other younger British drivers, so October in Brazil that will be it."
