Coulthard: Ferrari could dominate in 2003

Since winning back-to-back drivers' championships in 1998-99 McLaren has slipped behind Ferrari and this year the team is a distant third in the constructors' championship. It is hopeful of returning to past form next year, and technical director Adrian Newey is likely to be absent from most of the remaining races this season as he concentrates on the 2003 challenger.

Coulthard is not overly optimistic, however: "It's worrying because we are having to pin a lot of hopes on the fact that the new package will give us performance," he told Reuters. "If we fail to roll out the new car and go a second faster, then it's probably going to mean another year of chasing Ferrari.

"Certainly I think Ferrari can continue and carry this level of performance into next year. But beyond 2003 I think it's a brave man that would say it's just an indefinite performance level. Unfortunately just because we all want it to be more competitive it doesn't mean it's going to be."