Leclerc's Schumacher performance stoked "fears" and "flashbacks" - Coulthard
Leclerc's Schumacher performance stoked "fears" and "flashbacks" - Coulthard
David Coulthard was given shivers and flashbacks after witnessing Charles Leclerc's dominant Australian Grand Prix display that reminded him of Michael Schumacher during his Ferrari heyday.
Leclerc delivered a crushing performance at Melbourne's Albert Park, becoming the first Ferrari driver for 12 years to score a grand slam of pole, victory, fastest lap and leading every lap.
The result has allowed Leclerc to open up a significant lead in the drivers' standings, with Lewis Hamilton 43 points adrift and reigning champion Max Verstappen 46 back after two retirements in the first three races.
Reflecting on Leclerc's stellar driver, speaking on Channel 4, Coulthard said: "I had a little bit of a shiver actually, a flashback to when Michael was dominant in the Ferrari." Laughing, Coulthard added: "All my fears came back again!"
Expanding further, Coulthard said: "We've got to acknowledge he [Leclerc] is a quality driver, a great human being.
"Ferrari has worked hard, and [team principal] Mattia Binotto, what a cool character he's been under all the pressure of the lack of performance over the last two years.
"That [Leclerc's drive] was dominant. That really was an impressive display."
Sainz 'drove angry'
On the other side of the garage, it was arguably Carlos Sainz's worst weekend since joining Ferrari at the start of last year.
An issue in qualifying relegated Sainz to ninth on the grid, forcing Ferrari to switch to a different strategy as he started on used hard tyres compared to the eight drivers ahead who were all on new mediums.
A further technical gremlin compromised his start and by the end of lap one, he had fallen to 14th, sparking a lunge on the Haas of Mick Schumacher into turn nine that sent him across the gravel and into a gravel trap where he beached the car.
Coulthard has suggested Binotto now puts an "arm around" Sainz in a bid to get him back on track for one of Ferrari's two home races next up at Imola.
Coulthard added: "Look, he knows he's really got it wrong. He was driving angry, it was one mistake after another.
"He's under pressure because the guy you've got to beat is the guy who's got the winning car.
"It's fine when you're playing it out as team-mates in the mid-grid, it's all for the greater good.
"But right now, his future, the dream of having a world championship-winning car is in his hands, and his team-mate has picked it up and gone 'This suits me like a glove'
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 News Today: Hamilton and Verstappen rivalry takes SHOCK twist as F1 team 'set to announce' mega signing
- 2 hours ago
Horner Red Bull saga in new 'evidence' update as big F1 star left 'very angry' - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Cocky sporting legend CHALLENGES Hamilton in stunning claim
- Yesterday 22:57
Ricciardo boss in 'super disappointing' claim amid RB stars' performance
- Yesterday 21:57
F1 team 'set to announce MEGA signing' in major Red Bull challenge
- Yesterday 20:57
Horner in BRUTAL Wolff swipe amid Verstappen to Mercedes links
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
Big name driver 'very angry internally' after controversial battle
Ferrari F1 star concedes key advantage in crucial team-mate battle
Leclerc hints at early F1 RETIREMENT
Leclerc unveils AMAZING tribute for Bianchi tragedy
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860