Haug muddies the McLaren waters

If the sport was football, then Coulthard might be worried after Haug's dreaded vote of confidence.

The German boss defended the Scot over claims his mistake in Austria when he rammed team-mate Mika Hakkinen may have cost him his place at McLaren, and said the situation in the team was 'completely unchanged'.

Haug said, 'We sorted it out straight after the race. Mika said forget it, it's a mistake.

'They shook hands and that was it. David has never done a mistake like that in 60 races at McLaren. That was the first time.

'If it happened on a more regular basis it would be a different thing,
believe me,' he added.

Haug hit back at reports that the most powerful man at Mercedes, Jurgen
Schrempp, was quoted as saying, 'That might be the end of a career.'

'That is complete rubbish,' he said. 'He leaves these decisions to us.'

However, Haug cast doubt over next year's McLaren line-up, saying the contracts for the pair had not been sorted out.

'It is not done yet. It will take a while,' he said.

'I have no idea whether it is a two or a 20-day issue. The plan is that we stay as we are but I don't expect surprises but as long as the contracts are not signed you cannot announce it and you cannot be sure.'

Last year McLaren and Mercedes kept their profile high by keeping the speculation bubbling and then - as everyone expected - confirmed their driver line-up as Coulthard and Hakkinen.

Last week in Austria Coulthard said, 'All that is left is put our names on a piece of paper. I expect to he a McLaren driver next year.'