Coulthard Refuses to be Downbeat Despite 'Poor' Year

Scot David Coulthard is refusing to be downbeat despite what the McLaren driver has labelled as a "poor" performance from his team in 2002.

After finishing a distant second to Ferrari's Michael Schumacher in last year's Championship, 31-year old Coulthard started the season with high hopes following promising performances in winter testing with the Mercedes-powered MP-17 McLaren chassis.

But the car from the Woking-based squad has failed to live up to the expectations, with only the tight streets of the Monte Carlo circuit two weeks ago offering a chance for Coulthard to win in 2002 after a disappointing start where the British team were clearly beaten by Ferrari and Williams.

But Coulthard, who is finally considered the McLaren team leader following the exit of two-time champion Mika Hakkinen, says he will not give up just because the car is not up to what they had expected before the start of the year.

"Prior to the start of the season, we believed we had a winning package but, apart from Monaco, we have been poor, the third team on performance," Coulthard told The Times newspaper. "It took me a couple of races or more to get my head around that fact and I was disappointed and confused, but since then I have been able to get on with the job.

"I can't drop my head and start being all depressed about the fact the car isn't as good as we believed," the Scot added. "There's a lot that ultimately only the driver can understand and the engineers rely heavily on what we have to say.

"It never ceases to amaze me that one extra effort, one extra conversation can unleash a flurry of activity between the engineers, who suddenly find something new. I have seen it already this year because I have sat around that wee bit longer and talked."

Coulthard seized the opportunity he had at Monaco - a circuit where the lack of power is not so important - to finally return to the top step of the podium after more than a year of winning drought.

The Scot, however, is refusing to get carried away as he prepares for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, where the less powerful Mercedes engine is expected to be no match for Ferrari or the BMW-powered Williams team.

"People won't understand that, but it already feels like months ago since Monaco happened," he said. "The pace of Formula One means the viewers switch off and we go travelling. It all starts again and one win ultimately means nothing."