All equal at McLaren for title charge

David Coulthard has been given the all-clear to launch his own championship assault after McLaren ruled out team orders

Despite trailing championship leader Eddie Irvine by 20 points, the Scot will not be forced to support Mika Hakkinen's championship challenge.

Hakkinen's victory in Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix brought him to within two points of title hopeful Eddie Irvine with only five races left.

Coulthard capitalised on Irvine's late error to complete a 1-2 for McLaren in Budapest.

'The team have not mentioned team orders to me at all,' said Coulthard.

'We are in the situation where we have to try and run both cars as fast as possible. As a team we have realised we have to push every single lap.

'Team orders could work against us if one driver dropped back to try and help out but then the one in front suddenly had a mechanical problem or something. That would only benefit our rivals.'

Dennis said, 'My perception of a grand prix team is that you try to give your two drivers equal equipment and let them get on and race.

'If you start separating from the top of the company down, then you get some people who are happy and some who are not and that is destructive for any organisation.'