Has DC driven his last F1 grand prix?

If you believe Force India commercial director Ian Phillips, the Spanish Grand Prix may be the last time we see David Coulthard crashing out competing in an F1 car. Phillips told F1 hack Maurice Hamilton, on his Inside Line podcast, that “the word is that perhaps that there is a young lad - probably from Toro Rosso - that will probably be in there… by the next race, from what I understand.”

The “young lad” in question would be Sebastian Vettel, whose race has ended on the first lap in three of the first four grands prix this season. There’s nothing like replacing an unlucky old driver with an unlucky young driver. And few drivers have been as unlucky as Coulthard and Vettel so far in 2008.

Vettel, 20, has been tipped as a future world champion, although he has not begun to fulfil his potential yet. We’d like to see him in a better car than the Toro Rosso; ideally, we’d like to see him in a better car than the Red Bull too. He has plenty of time on his side, something Coulthard doesn’t have.

If there is no truth in this rumour, why would Phillips put it out there in such a public manner? Could it be because Force India is a direct rival to Toro Rosso and he’s doing anything he can to unsettle that team?