David Coulthard says 26-pole F1 driver is still ‘like a puppy’ who makes too many mistakes

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Modern Formula 1 has been dominated by particular drivers who have carved out eras where they were simply unstoppable no matter what their nearest rivals did.

Stretching back to Michael Schumacher and Ferrari at the beginning of the 2000s, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and now Max Verstappen all fall into that category.

Verstappen’s masterful drive at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix appears to have earned him a fourth world title unless Lando Norris can achieve the unlikeliest of comebacks across the final three races of the season.

Norris fits into the category of drivers who have shown glimpses of greatness but doesn’t have the level of consistency yet to be a world champion.

It speaks volumes that there are only three world champions currently on the grid, with Lewis Hamilton struggling at Mercedes before his move to Ferrari and Fernando Alonso currently on a decade-long streak without a victory.

It means if Red Bull can’t build a car on the same level as McLaren and Ferrari for next year, then there’s the best chance since Verstappen’s first title in 2021 that a new driver could win their maiden championship.

David Coulthard was speaking on the Formula For Success Podcast and named one driver who fits into that category.

Charles Leclerc is arguably the fastest Formula 1 driver over one lap and already has 26 pole positions to his name.

He’s struggled to convert as many of those front-row starts into victories as he would like, and Coulthard believes he just needs to cut a few small mistakes to reach the required level to be a champion.

David Coulthard tells Charles Leclerc he needs to iron out ‘little mistakes’

Leclerc currently sits third in the Drivers’ Championship and could still leapfrog Norris if he wins at least one of the final three races this season.

He was supremely fast in Las Vegas last year and former Red Bull chief Adrian Newey admitted that Leclerc probably deserved to win the race.

However, it will be interesting to see if Leclerc is capable of winning a title if Ferrari can maintain their position close to the front of the pack next year, especially alongside Hamilton.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Talking about Leclerc’s generation of drivers and how they’ve adapted to F1, Coulthard said: “I think that Max arrived, the finished article.

“Just with a few rough edges, already when he came to Formula 1. Whereas for others, I think it’s taken a bit longer.

“I think Charles as well. He’s still like a puppy occasionally peeing on the carpet. But once they iron out all those little mistakes, I think we’re going into a golden era of Formula 1.”

Lewis Hamilton already looking forward to 2025 Ferrari switch alongside Charles Leclerc

Any driver who races for Ferrari in Formula 1 is always under huge scrutiny.

Expectations haven’t fallen even though the team haven’t won a championship in 16 years.

However, the spotlight will be firmly on Hamilton during his maiden campaign racing for the Scuderia.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Hamilton is already excited about racing for Ferrari despite having three more races left at Mercedes.

That may play into Leclerc’s hands as he will not only be more comfortable in the team compared to his new teammate but also can get on with his job while everyone studies Hamilton’s performances.

That might give him the time and space required to cut out the small mistakes Coulthard has spotted.