Aware that they will probably be the only two British drivers carrying the baton in
Formula One next season,
Jenson Button and
Lewis Hamilton paid tribute to veteran colleague
David Coulthard as the Scot discussed his decision to retire at the end of the year.
With
Anthony Davidson losing his place on the grid after
Super Aguri F1 succumbed to financial pressures, the trio have been Britain's standard bearers in the top flight, but Coulthard has now confirmed speculation that he is to hang up his helmet at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix in October, after 14 years as an F1 driver.
The announcement, made on the eve of his home grand prix at
Silverstone, comes after much speculation about DC's future, and his role with
Red Bull Racing, with television work being touted as a possible means of remaining involved with a sport he has graced with 13 race wins. Button will pick up the baton as Britain's most experienced driver, assuming he remains with
Honda next season, but admits that he is sorry to see someone he regarded as both a friend and a rival bowing out.
"In a way, for sure, I am disappointed," he told journalists at Silverstone, "If you look at David's career, he has achieved a lot - and a lot more that most drivers will ever achieve in their F1 career.
"I have always got on well with DC since [debuting in F1 in] 2000, and we have been pretty good friends around the paddock, but also away from the circuit. I will miss him at the races for sure, but I'm also happy for him that he has made the decision to do something else next year. It is nice when you can make that decision yourself and find something else that can take up your time. Obviously, he has a beautiful fiancée to look after....."
Hamilton's career has only crossed Coulthard's in the past couple of seasons, but the Scot was one of those drivers that the youngster admired as he came up through the ranks, particularly while DC was part of the
McLaren operation that nurtured his formative years.
