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David Coulthard compares Robin Raikkonen's rise to Max Verstappen's

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 19, 2026, 5:01 PM

Last updated Sep 19, 2026

David Coulthard compares Robin Raikkonen's rise to Max Verstappen's

Summary

David Coulthard has drawn comparisons between Robin Raikkonen and Max Verstappen's early careers. Raikkonen, son of former F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen, joined Red Bull's junior program at age 11 and is gaining attention in karting. Coulthard emphasized Raikkonen's family's commitment, having relocated from Switzerland to Italy for better training opportunities. He cautioned that success in karting does not guarantee success in single-seaters due to differing vehicle dynamics and urged patience regarding Raikkonen's future development. The former F1 driver expressed optimism about Raikkonen's character, noting that he appears grounded despite early success.

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By the Numbers

•David Coulthard highlights parallels with Max Verstappen's early career.
•Robin Raikkonen joined Red Bull's junior program at age 11.
•Raikkonen's family moved to Italy for karting training.
•Coulthard cautions that karting success may not translate to cars.
•Future development will test Raikkonen's focus and determination.

Latest Updates

5:01 PMYahoo Sports — Robin Raikkonen’s rise earns comparison with Max Verstappen’s early journey

What they're saying

"
David Coulthard has drawn parallels between Robin Raikkonen's early motorsport journey and the path followed by Max Verstappen under the close guidance of his father, Jos, during his formative years. As has been known for several days, Red Bull has strengthened its ranks by bringing the son of former McLaren, Ferrari, Lotus and Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen into its junior programme at just 11 years old, with young Robin already making a name for himself in karting.
— Yahoo Sports

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