David Coulthard baffled by Ferrari’s ongoing struggles and Adrian Newey miss regardless of huge sources
David Coulthard has expressed deep confusion over Ferrari’s lack of ability to persistently problem for System 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 long-lasting group needs to be a dominant drive 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 for the reason that 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 competition have to this point 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 major efficiency hole.
David Coulthard, a 13-time Grand Prix winner, admitted he couldn’t perceive how a group with Ferrari’s stature and sources was nonetheless unable to attain 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 in need of expectations.
The missed alternative to signal Adrian Newey solely provides to the thriller. Broadly considered essentially the most profitable technical thoughts in System 1 historical past, Adrian Newey was linked with the Maranello group following his exit from Crimson Bull. As a substitute, he opted to affix Aston Martin, taking up the function of managing technical accomplice beginning in March 2025.
Adrian Newey’s determination to affix Aston Martin shocked many, together with David Coulthard, who questioned how the Silverstone-based group managed to safe the providers of a determine who has been instrumental in securing 26 world championships throughout a number of groups. The previous System 1 driver identified that the Maranello group had each the monetary muscle and the attract to steer Adrian Newey however someway failed to shut the deal.
David Coulthard dismissed funds because the decisive issue, noting that Ferrari had already demonstrated their potential 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 spend money on Adrian Newey’s providers 20 years in the past. On the time, Mateschitz was hesitant as a result of price, prompting David Coulthard to argue that investing in a high designer might be much more essential than signing a number one driver. He defined {that a} good automotive may permit even common drivers to win races, whereas a mediocre automotive—whatever the driver’s expertise—would battle to attain constant outcomes.
In the end, Mateschitz was persuaded and introduced Newey on board, a choice that may 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 intently with group proprietor Lawrence Stroll, whose provide included not only a management function but in addition 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’ every day operations.
The legendary automotive 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. In the end, Aston Martin’s imaginative and prescient for the 2026 rules, mixed with their new works partnership with Honda, satisfied him to affix their mission 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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