New Pitlane Exit to Affect Strategy, Says Coulthard

Scot David Coulthard believes the teams will have to alter their Monaco Grand Prix race strategies this year because of the new pitlane exit that has been created.

The cars used to exit the pits just before Sainte Devote, the first corner after the start-finish line, but will now go around the inside of that famous turn and exit on the hill after the first corner.

"I think changing the length of the pitlane will definitely affect the pitstops this year because now you can't come out of the pits and get in front at the first corner," Coulthard said.

"I noticed in practice that I could have a car in front of me going around the first corner and I could go my normal line and out accelerate them up the hill, so it changes the whole strategy."

Coulthard has won two of the last three races at Monaco and, after finishing fifth in his McLaren-Mercedes in the first qualifying session on Thursday he is confident he could add to his tally.

"My lap was reasonable," he said of Thursday's performance. "It was nothing special, but we are in the right area for qualifying on Saturday and that is what matters."