David Coulthard baffled by Ferrari’s ongoing struggles and Adrian Newey miss regardless of huge assets
David Coulthard has expressed deep confusion over Ferrari’s incapability to constantly problem for Method 1 race victories, regardless of having what he described as immense potential and world backing. The previous Crimson Bull, McLaren, and Williams driver believes the enduring group ought to be a dominant pressure however continues to underperform—notably in mild of lacking the chance to signal legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey.
Ferrari, regardless of being the game’s most storied identify, has not lifted a title because the 2008 Constructors’ Championship. The Scuderia’s final Drivers’ Championship dates even additional again, to Kimi Räikkönen’s triumph in 2007. Though the group confirmed promise within the 2024 season—pushing McLaren to a title showdown in Abu Dhabi—hopes that Lewis Hamilton’s arrival in 2025 would elevate Ferrari to championship rivalry have to date fallen flat.
As a substitute, McLaren has surged forward. After 9 rounds of the 2025 marketing campaign, they maintain a commanding 197-point lead within the Constructors’ Championship over Ferrari, highlighting a big efficiency hole.
David Coulthard, a 13-time Grand Prix winner, admitted he couldn’t perceive how a group with Ferrari’s stature and assets was nonetheless unable to realize constant success. He famous that the model’s world affect, fan assist, and funding ought to logically translate into frequent victories, but the group continues to fall wanting expectations.
The missed alternative to signal Adrian Newey solely provides to the thriller. Extensively thought to be essentially the most profitable technical thoughts in Method 1 historical past, Adrian Newey was linked with the Maranello group following his exit from Crimson Bull. As a substitute, he opted to hitch Aston Martin, taking over the function of managing technical associate beginning in March 2025.
Adrian Newey’s determination to hitch Aston Martin shocked many, together with David Coulthard, who questioned how the Silverstone-based group managed to safe the companies of a determine who has been instrumental in securing 26 world championships throughout a number of groups. The previous Method 1 driver identified that the Maranello group had each the monetary muscle and the attract to steer Adrian Newey however in some way failed to shut the deal.
David Coulthard dismissed funds because the decisive issue, noting that Ferrari had already demonstrated their means to fund blockbuster offers by luring Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes with a long-term contract reportedly value over $400 million. Drawing from private expertise, the previous McLaren and Crimson Bull driver recalled the trouble it took to persuade the late Crimson Bull proprietor Dietrich Mateschitz to put money into Adrian Newey’s companies twenty years in the past. On the time, Mateschitz was hesitant as a result of value, prompting David Coulthard to argue that investing in a high designer could possibly be much more essential than signing a number one driver. He defined {that a} sensible automobile might permit even common drivers to win races, whereas a mediocre automobile—whatever the driver’s expertise—would battle to realize constant outcomes.
Finally, Mateschitz was persuaded and introduced Newey on board, a call that will show pivotal in shaping Crimson Bull’s future success.
Adrian Newey, in an interview with Sky Sports activities Information, later revealed why he selected Aston Martin over Ferrari. He confirmed that the Scuderia had been a robust consideration however cited a number of compelling causes for choosing Aston Martin. Chief amongst them was the chance to work carefully with group proprietor Lawrence Stroll, whose provide included not only a management function but additionally a shareholding within the group. Adrian Newey was drawn to Stroll’s hands-on possession model, which reminded him of previous F1 group bosses like Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, and Eddie Jordan—figures who have been deeply concerned of their groups’ day by day operations.
The legendary automobile designer additionally admitted he had lengthy harbored ambitions to work with each Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, however with the 2 champions racing for various groups, he had to decide on. Finally, Aston Martin’s imaginative and prescient for the 2026 rules, mixed with their new works partnership with Honda, satisfied him to hitch their undertaking and play a number one function in shaping their future competitiveness.
His first public look as an Aston Martin figurehead got here on the Monaco Grand Prix, and Adrian Newey is predicted to attend a number of extra race weekends all through the 2025 season as he integrates into his new function.
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