In a decision that has seemed on the cards for weeks after a series of mishaps on the track, David Coulthard, the Scottish Red Bull and former McLaren Mercedes and Williams driver, called time on his Formula One career yesterday.

Speaking at Silverstone, Coulthard, 37, said that he will call it quits at the end of this season - his fifteenth in Formula One - after a career that promised much but ultimately failed to deliver the big prize of a World Championship.

Along the way, however, “DC”, who finished second to Michael Schumacher in the drivers' championship in 2001, has proved one of the true stayers of the sport, something underlined by his fourth place in the list for points per driver in Formula One.

With 533 points, including six for third place in the French Grand Prix two weeks ago, Coulthard is beaten in this category only by Schumacher (1,369), Alain Prost (798) and Ayrton Senna (614). Since his debut for Williams in 1994, the talkative Scot has won 13 grands prix, achieved 12 pole positions and amassed an impressive tally of 62 podium finishes.

“There is not one morning you wake up [and make the decision to retire],” Coulthard said. “But I have had a growing feeling that this year is the right time to make it my last year in Formula One. I have always had a fairly realistic view on the career of a sportsman, how long it may last and the opportunities that are there for you.

“I feel fulfilled in the opportunities I have had. I won't be looking back, thinking, 'If only, if only I had had a World Championship-winning car.' I did have a World Championship-winning car, I just didn't win it.”

Coulthard, who survived a plane crash in 2000, is regarded as a brilliant technical driver whose career was overshadowed mainly by Mika Hakkinen, his former team-mate at McLaren, much in the same way as Rubens Barrichello was overshadowed by Schumacher at Ferrari. On his day, however, he could beat anyone, as his record of wins attests.

In “retirement”, Coulthard is to continue in a consultancy role with Red Bull and there is speculation that he will join the new BBC Television team, as a paddock-based pundit in place of Mark Blundell, next season when the corporation takes over coverage of Formula One from ITV.

Cheers and tears

Highs

1994 Makes debut for Williams Renault in Spanish Grand Prix

2001 Takes highest finish in World Championship - second place for McLaren Mercedes behind Michael Schumacher, of Ferrari

2002 Wins Monaco Grand Prix for second time

Lows

1995 Moves from Williams Renault to less competitive McLaren team

1998 Allows Mika Hakkinen, his team-mate, to pass him for victory in the Australian Grand Prix, confirming Hakkinen's status as McLaren No1

2000 Escapes plane crash with girlfriend that killed two pilots