Coulthard's Comments on Lewis Hamilton's Performance Decline

On the Pit Talk podcast episode where David Coulthard (as host/interviewer or guest in discussion) addressed Lewis Hamilton’s form, particularly in the context of all-time great drivers and signs of declining raw speed.

Key quotes and points made by David Coulthard on Hamilton’s “downfall” in performance:

– Places Hamilton in the same elite category as Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, and Max Verstappen — drivers with exceptional natural talent that transcends eras.
– Acknowledges that pure talent does not diminish over time, but raw speed can decline with age.
– Specifically states: “He [Hamilton] hasn’t really dominated the teammate for the last two, three years.”
– This refers to Hamilton being consistently outperformed in qualifying and often in races by George Russell at Mercedes (especially evident in 2024, where Russell outqualified him significantly).
– Compares it to Michael Schumacher’s return with Mercedes (2010–2012), where Schumacher no longer had the “full package” he displayed during his dominant Ferrari years — implying a similar loss of peak one-lap pace for Hamilton.
– Emphasises that the greatest drivers combine raw speed with intelligence, racecraft, and consistency, but losing that edge in outright speed is a natural part of aging, even for legends.
– Notes Hamilton’s otherwise unblemished career (clean racing, no major controversies apart from the 2021 Silverstone clash with Verstappen).

On a more positive note for the future:
– Believes Hamilton could still win an eighth title at Ferrari if he consistently outperforms Charles Leclerc, proving the speed is still there when motivated in a new environment.

Overall tone: Respectful towards Hamilton’s legacy but factual and direct about observable decline in qualifying dominance and teammate battles in recent seasons (2022–2024/early 2025 context). No full verbatim transcript was available on the page, but this captures the core segment discussing the “downfall” aspect.