Coulthard questions whether Ferrari's Schumacher tribute masks team orders crisis at Monza

David Coulthard has cast doubt on the timing of Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher tribute at Monza, suggesting the special livery and race suits could be a deliberate attempt to shift attention away from the team orders row that dogged the Scuderia at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, the former Red Bull driver pointed to Ferrari’s recent hesitancy in executing team orders as the backdrop to his scepticism. “I think that they hesitate too often, and again, it’s easy to criticise,” Coulthard said. “But what we do have is the retrospective examples of the hesitancy, which has led to the opinion that they hesitate.”

Coulthard argued the Schumacher celebration conveniently redirects the conversation. “It’s almost like a slight distraction technique this week, celebrating the greatness of Michael Schumacher and his successes. Given that he ended up at Mercedes and they’re having a strong year, it’s almost like, is this the moment to pull out the celebration of Michael? Is this not really the moment to try and win the Monza Grand Prix?”

Former F1 TV pundit Will Buxton offered a more straightforward reading of the tribute, noting it marks 30 years since Schumacher made his Ferrari debut in 1996. “It’s 30 years since he first raced for Ferrari back in ‘96, so I get it. And it’s a lovely thing to do,” Buxton said.

Buxton also highlighted the historical weight of Schumacher’s arrival at Maranello. “When Michael arrived there in ‘96, Ferrari hadn’t won a driver’s title since 1979. It had been a long, long time. Maybe they need a bit of inspiration from what Michael started to create in ‘96.”

He suggested the throwback livery could carry genuine motivational value for the team heading into their home race. “Maybe bringing that livery back and showing respect for what Michael created, maybe it gives them the inspiration to find that again.”

The debate adds another layer of scrutiny to Ferrari’s Monza weekend, where the team faces pressure both to perform on home soil and to resolve the internal tensions over driver hierarchy that have drawn widespread criticism.