 Interview: Coulthard Confident ahead of Race Friday May 24th, 2002 By Will Gray
The Scot has been disappointed by his team's uncompetitive car so far this season, but he believes the twisty track around the glittering harbour could give him a chance at last. "I am of the mind that this may give us an opportunity to qualify better than I have done in previous races and be a genuine podium finisher," he said. Coulthard set a stunning pace at last year's race when he stormed to what he describes as his greatest pole position ever. But the unfortunate Scot stalled before the race had even begun and came home fifth after being controversially blocked by Arrows driver Enrique Bernoldi. From then on rival Michael Schumacher romped away to the title, and Coulthard now admits: "It went downhill from this point on last season. That is disappointing but I am committed to the team. There is a lot of work to be done and just complaining about it and going home is not going to sort the problem out. "I really felt very strong and confident going into the season and it was a bit of a shock to find out we weren't as competitive as we all believed. It is clearly not as enjoyable as when you go to a race weekend with the opportunity to get pole and to win. But it is a different challenge and one that I am just getting my head down and concentrating on." Coulthard owns the plush £26 million Colombus Hotel in Monaco and has long been a resident in the Mediterranean principality. He has only finished three of his seven Monaco races but won here two years ago and still holds the lap record around the tight and challenging circuit. And, after finishing third in the first practice sessions on Thursday, he is confident he can lead the chase of rival Michael Schumacher. "I believe you don't ever lower your sights because you will then start to accept second best," he says. "I won't allow myself to do that." Ferrari driver Schumacher could win his sixth Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday to equal the record set by the late Ayrton Senna. But the German driver is still trying to put a mask over his podium protests following the now infamous team orders in Austria at the last race. He and his Ferrari team could face punishment on June 26th, and Coulthard warned: "There will probably be some sort of sporting rap over what they were doing on the podium. Some sort of fine and Michael will have to do public service again or whatever he had to do last time" - Schumacher had to participate in the FIA's road safety campaign, as part of his punishment for driving into rival Jacques Villeneuve at the European Grand Prix of 1997. To many the Ferrari team orders controversy tarnished Schumacher's record as one of the most successful drivers ever seen in the sport. But Coulthard believes the German's claims that he had nothing to do with the decision could do him more harm. "There is a lot of people who don't like him and respect him even though he has clearly been one of the most outstanding drivers of his time," The Scot said. "You can't take away his results and I genuinely do respect Michael as an individual. But I think you have to be very careful. "If you know your contract, you have absolute number one status, if you know that how can you turn around and then go 'oh, it is someone else'. You are trying to play both sides. You are trying to play the sporting hero and a 'win at all costs', 'hard man of motorsport'; and that, I think, is confusing."
Published at 11:27:52 GMT
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David Coulthard said on Friday that his McLaren team could pose a threat to Michael Schumacher's dominance around the streets of Monte Carlo in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.
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