SAO PAULO - VETERAN David Coulthard said he felt 'gutted' on Sunday when his final Formula One race before retirement ended at the first corner of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

As his one-time junior protege at McLaren, Lewis Hamilton, took the world title with a dramatic pass at the final corner after 71 laps, the 37-year-old Scot was left to reflect on what might have been.

He admitted he hoped that his final outing for Red Bull would have lasted longer and given him greater satisfaction than a first corner collision with two cars from the team that launched his career - Williams.

Coulthard brought down the curtain on a 15-year career that spanned 246 grands prix when he was sent spinning by German Nico Rosberg and then hit by his Williams' team-mate Japanese Kazuki Nakajima.

He said: 'I'm pretty gutted - it's not how I wanted to end my career.'

'I took a cautious approach into turn one and left plenty of space for the car on the inside, but unfortunately I think Rosberg hit me though turn two, which spun me round.'

'I thought it would be okay, but then Nakajima ran into the front of my car and took off the front corner.'

'I felt good on the warm-up laps going to the grid, I had no problem with it being wet and I wanted to get to the chequered flag. I was going to do some donuts for the crowd, which is something you normally get fined for, but it didn't work out.'

Coulthard, whose career began when he succeeded Ayrton Senna in the Williams team at the 1994 Spanish Grand Prix, is to continue with the Red Bull team as an advisor and consultant. He is likely also to work as a television commentator.

He added: 'I can't complain - I've had a good career so thank you to everyone who has supported me. Thank you also to the efforts of every member of the Red Bull Racing team for the last four years, which have been a lot of fun.'

'I look forward to continuing to work with them in the future. I've been overwhelmed by the level of support I've had from the paddock this weekend.'

'It means a great deal to me that so many people have taken the time to say 'nice career and good luck with the future.'

'And, in the absence of a World Championship, I think if I can leave with that, then that's a good ending.' -- AFP