REAL BATTLE, BY GEORGE
DAVID COULTHARD EXCLUSIVE First blood to Russell as Brits begin Merc duel No.2 driver is fighting to earn Hamilton’s seat... Ferrari-bound Lewis must prove he’s still top dog
THE war for the world title might already be lost – but expect sparks to fly in an epic Battle of Britain.
That is the prediction of former Formula One ace David Coulthard, who believes a fight WILL rage this season – though not in the drivers’ or constructors’ championships, where he expects Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to be the man to catch once again.
But Coulthard thinks it will be a proper tear-up in the Mercedes garage – with Lewis Hamilton’s defection to Ferrari next season firing-up his fellow British team-mate George Russell.
Coulthard said: “Could there be friction? Yes, 100 percent. When George got the news that Lewis was leaving, I’d be very surprised if he didn’t walk a few centimetres taller – and he’s already a tall man.
“He will feel now that this is a 24-race opportunity to cement his position as team leader moving forward – he will want Mercedes looking at him as that in the future.
“George is a very fast driver and potential champion.
“Like in football – if a youthteam striker gets his chance, the main man is looking over his shoulder. The fans get behind the youngster – particularly if he shows he knows what he is doing – and it carries on his momentum.
“The established guy wants to keep his place and before you know it, they are pushing each other hard.
“They are two competitive people. They’ll take anything and try to make it work in their favour. That’s how you overcome adversity.
“You have two massive competitors here, each with their own agenda to follow, and their own point to prove.
“The team dynamic is going to be very interesting.”
While Coulthard was surprised by Hamilton’s decision to move teams at the end of the 2024 campaign, which roared into life yesterday, he did not feel the 39-year-old seven-time champion in any way ‘jumped before he was pushed’.
Coulthard said: “Sports people are like lightbulbs. As soon as your lightbulb starts
to dim, either the team lets you know you are no longer required or you go somewhere else.
“In Lewis’s case, I do NOT think that his lightbulb is dimming. He was just stimulated and excited by the prospect of moving to Ferrari.
“He’s an exceptional talent. I don’t think his age counts against him. Nigel Mansell won a world championship at the age of 39 – he got the right car at the right time. “Alain Prost was 38. Juan Manuel Fangio didn’t start winning world championships until he was into his 40s. There is no sign that Lewis is losing anything in performance. And I wouldn’t write him off. “I had never imagined he would go to Ferrari. It might provide the mojo that takes him back five years in terms of energy and strategic effort.
“In any sort of marriage, there’s an element of taking things for granted. That’s just human nature.
“OK, now there has been a split – but it will put Lewis into a dating frenzy that might well land him that eighth world title!
“Mercedes will still be getting 100 percent from him this season. When you’re a driver and you leave the garage there’s no room for anything else in your mind.
“He’s human, so if he’s not comfortable in the car, he can’t do super-human things – but if the car talks to him he might.”
As for this season’s world title, Coulthard believes the early warning signs are clear: Red Bull and Verstappen will be the ones to catch again.
He added: “Based on what engineers have been saying coming out of the Barcelona tests, it very much looks as if Max is in the pound seats.
“I’d be surprised if his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez can beat him over a season.
“But I hope it’s competitive behind, with Ferrari, Mclaren and Mercedes.”