Coulthard hits back at his critics

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Autosport magazine, Coulthard says it is wrong to belittle his performance against the two world champions.

"Do I need to apologise that two guys on top of their form have been finishing in front of me?" he said. "Can I not have the dream that I can improve to the point where I can beat them? Do I have to accept that I'm just never going to because I just haven't? I don't think so."

Coulthard is adamant that this season has been his best in Formula One. He finished third in the world championship, scoring 73-points, and insists there is more to come.

"I think I am still coming up," he said. "The fact I've got more points than ever before shows I am improving. I don't think there is any evidence that I am any worse as a driver or I have peaked out. There is enough evidence, whether you are a doubter or a believer, to show an improvement.

"While I still believe I can improve, there is every opportunity to beat Mika. I see the challenge of beating Mika in the same car as a big motivation. I sometimes feel that if he wasn't here I would feel very hollow because he is one of the best guys in F1."

The 29-year-old Scot still firmly believes he has the talent to become world champion - and sooner rather than later.

"I don't see winning the championship as the hurdles others might see it," he said. "It's not a wall. Consistency of performance and some luck stands between myself and winning the title.

"The fact I have beaten Mika in individual races shows I can do it, but what I haven't done is do it over the course of a season. I am not going to dodge off somewhere else. My time is now."