David Coulthard explains why Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher always had more ‘potential’ than him in F1

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Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton share the record for the most world championships at seven, but what is it that makes them such great drivers compared to the rest?

Having raced against both of them in the early and latter stages of his career, David Coulthard knows what it is like to go wheel to wheel with Schumacher and Hamilton on the same piece of tarmac.

Coulthard infamously collided with Schumacher at the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, prompting the angry Ferrari driver to march down to his McLaren pit box and nearly start a fight.

Having driven for McLaren at the same time Mika Hakkinen won two world titles in 1998 and 1999, Coulthard explained one reason why drivers such as his teammate, Schumacher and Hamilton managed to win championships when speaking on the High Performance podcast.

David Coulthard thinks Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher had ‘spare capacity’

Coulthard won 13 races in his F1 career, with the Scot’s last being in 2003 for McLaren. He made the switch to Red Bull in their early years, but elected to retire in 2008 before going into TV punditry.

Discussing what he felt great drivers have that he didn’t when he was in F1, Coulthard explains how both Schumacher and Hamilton share the same characteristic that makes them great.

“In terms of having used that 15 years as a driver and looked at the data against some of the great drivers, I think they just exploit the potential of the machinery and the tires in a more consistent way than someone like myself,” said Coulthard.

“It’s the point at which you overload and go, that’s the limit. They just have that little bit of room to go: ‘Is it the limit?’ – It doesn’t mean they don’t make mistakes.

“And we’ve seen Michael crash and we’ve seen Lewis crash. Of course, they get it wrong occasionally. But I think their spare capacity to exploit potential opportunity is there.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1 legend Michael Schumacher from net worth to career stats

David Coulthard behind Stirling Moss for one F1 record

Coulthard admitted that he ‘dipped in and out’ of being a world-class driver, which ultimately prevented him from matching the consistency of Schumacher.

Although he still managed to win races, he would ultimately never add his name to the list of champions despite having the car that was capable.

The Scot is second on the all-time list of drivers who won races but never went on to win a title, with him being three wins behind Stirling Moss.

Coulthard finished third in the Drivers’ Championship on four occasions, but in 2001 he came closest having finished second behind Schumacher.