I'd choose Mika over Michael, says DC

Speaking in this week's Autosport magazine, the Scot says he believes that Hakkinen is better able to handle pressure and is quicker than Schumacher over a single lap.

"I think Mika is an exceptional driver and if I was a team owner I would employ him over Michael," said Coulthard. "When you expect Mika to be under the most pressure he can handle it very well, and that is his way of going racing. He closes himself off from other distractions.

"Michael has been a hard, consistent racer through the year and deserves credit for that, because he doesn't have an off day as such. But I wouldn't say that there is any evidence he handles pressure situations better. In fact I would say that when he gets a bit desperate he is prepared to do what some people might question was sporting or not."

Coulthard also believes that Hakkinen is a much faster driver than he is given credit for.

"I think there is every suggestion that Mika is quicker over one lap," he said. "Michael is harder in a race situation, because there is more evidence of racing than Mika. But running in front, Mika is brilliant."

DC also says that having Hakkinen as a team mate since 1996 means that he is kept constantly motivated to go faster.

"Mika is one of the quickest guys in Formula 1 and there is nothing quite like a team mate doing a faster lap to motivate you. It means that you cannot say that the car would not go any quicker, because it is completely obvious that the package would.

"I don't like him being faster than me any more than he likes me being faster than him - and that has led to a very strong situation between us."