Coulthard doubts rivals would copy Verstappen’s ‘scary’ Nordschleife challenge

The four-time world champion is coming off a gruelling Nordschleife weekend, where he shared the #3 Mercedes with team-mates Daniel Juncadella, Lucas Auer and Jules Gounon, coming agonisingly close to pulling off a sensational victory in the Nurburgring 24 Hours on his first attempt. However, a technical issue in the closing hours of the race brought his hopes to an end, leaving Verstappen Racing with a bitter sense of disappointment.

Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, the former Formula 1 driver stressed just how demanding and dangerous the Nurburgring remains, pointing to the level of commitment required to compete at the front around the Nordschleife and recalling the tragic reality that a driver recently lost his life at the circuit.

“That is a scary racetrack, I've been around that and the commitment that at that level you need to have to be competitive, to be at the front like they were, is... Sadly, we reported that there was a driver who lost his life on that very track, such is the nature of the challenge of the racetrack.”

He then added that Verstappen’s decision to race at the Nürburgring reflected an “old school commitment” rarely seen in modern Formula 1, suggesting that while the rest of the grid is undoubtedly filled with technically outstanding drivers, very few would currently be willing to take on a challenge as intimidating as the Nordschleife.

The Brit believes Verstappen is unlikely to ever leave Red Bull, arguing that no other Formula 1 team would be willing - or even able - to give the Dutchman the same level of freedom and individuality he currently enjoys within Milton Keynes. Speaking after Verstappen’s remarkable Nürburgring 24 Hours appearance, the former F1 driver suggested Red Bull’s environment remains uniquely suited to the four-time world champion’s personality both on and off the track.

According to Coulthard, teams such as Ferrari, Mercedes or McLaren operate in a very different way due to the scale of their structures and the level of investment placed around the wider organisation rather than around a single driver. Red Bull, by contrast, has historically embraced Verstappen’s more independent approach, something the Scot believes traces back directly to the philosophy of late founder Dietrich Mateschitz.

Coulthard recalled how Mateschitz had always encouraged drivers to remain authentic rather than conforming to rigid expectations, adding that Verstappen’s current relationship with Red Bull perfectly reflects that mentality. For that reason, the former McLaren and Red Bull driver believes the speculation surrounding Verstappen’s future will ultimately fade away, with the Dutchman likely to remain at Red Bull for the remainder of his Formula 1 career.