McLaren Should Impose Team Orders, Says Berger

Two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen should help McLaren teammate David Coulthard during the rest of the season, according to BMW motorsports' boss Gerhard Berger.

The former McLaren driver believes the Woking-based team should impose team orders this year in order to favour Coulthard who, after six rounds of the 2001 season, lies four points behind Championship leader Michael Schumacher and 34 in front of teammate Hakkinen.

Berger's comments come only four days after Ferrari asked Rubens Barrichello to allow Schumacher to take second place at the Austrian Grand Prix, a move which arose a lot of controversy.

"This is all about winning the world championship," Berger told PA Sport. "This season hasn't worked out for Hakkinen so now it's time for him to help. Barrichello doesn't have a realistic chance of winning the title, so it is an obvious solution. McLaren must think like that too.

"They are going to have to do it soon. And I don't think Mika is going to have a problem with it. It's more difficult for a guy like Barrichello who has to prove himself all the time. Mika doesn't need to, because everybody knows how good he is."

However, McLaren boss Ron Dennis, as well as other member of the team, have expressed their disagreement with team orders, saying they will not use them this year.