DC decides to stop at top

David Coulthard, the oldest driver on the Formula One grid at 37, announced on Thursday that he would retire at the end of the season.

David Coulthard, the oldest driver on the Formula One grid at 37, announced on Thursday that he would retire at the end of the season.

8220;I would like to announce today my decision to retire from racing in Formula One at the end of this season,8221; the Red Bull driver said in a statement issued before the British Grand Prix. 8220;I will remain actively involved as a consultant to Red Bull Racing focusing on testing and development of the cars.

8220;I have an open mind as to whether or not I will compete again in the future, in some other form of motorsport, so I am definitely not hanging up my helmet,8221; added the Scot, who is expected to be replaced by Germany8217;s Sebastian Vettel. Vettel, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Thursday, is racing for Red Bull8217;s Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso sister team.

Coulthard said his decision to retire was based on 8220;a desire to stop while I am still competitive and enjoying the immense challenge that Grand Prix driving represents8221;.

Coulthard has won 13 Grands Prix, two of them at Silverstone, in a career that started with Williams in 1994 after the death of Brazilian champion Ayrton Senna. He has started 236 races to date, more than any other British driver. Coulthard8217;s greatest success came in his nine seasons with McLaren, with the highlight being in 2001 when he finished overall runner-up to Ferrari8217;s Michael Schumacher.

In 1998 and 1999, when he had a race-winning car, he was eclipsed by Finnish team mate Mika Hakkinen. Coulthard finished third in last month8217;s Canadian Grand Prix, his first podium appearance since 2006, and said he would 8220;continue to race with the same focus until the last lap in Brazil8221;.

End of an era

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner paid tribute to his driver as 8220;a consummate professional8221;.

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8220;He has demonstrated that he is a real team player, a fact reinforced by the statistic that he has only driven for two other F1 teams in his career,8221; he added.

8220;He scored our first point, our first podium and was the first of our drivers to lead a grand prix. Above all, he is a gentleman and I regard him as a good friend.

8220;His retirement brings to a close not just his career as a grand prix racing driver but also a chapter in the history of Formula One, if one considers the changes the sport has been through while he has been involved with it.8221;

Force India hopeful

Halfway through the season, the Force India management is hoping not to bring up the rear again at their home track. But chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne has said he did not expect the team to do any miracles and is optimistic that new updates in the car would bring in significant change in Sunday8217;s race.