Coulthard: Ferrari Still Favourites

Red Bull driver David Coulthard believes World Champions Ferrari will remain the team to beat during the 2005 season.

"I expect Ferrari to remain the team to beat," the Scot said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

Ferrari have been constructors' champions for the past six years, while their star driver Michael Schumacher has clinched the drivers' crown for five consecutive seasons.

Coulthard, who finished second to Schumacher in the 2001 Championship, is unlikely to get close to the German this year after making a switch from McLaren to the former Jaguar team, now owned by Red Bull.

The Scot, who visited Ferrari's factory in November, revealed Ferrari considered the possibility of signing him as a test driver for 2005.

"I had the impression that if I had the opportunity to work in that team I would have felt at ease there," added Coulthard. "So we talked about the possibility of becoming test driver, but in the end I had the chance to race so it's fine. Ferrari is certainly a different team."

Coulthard left McLaren, the team he had been driving for since the 1996 season, to make room for Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, who will now partner Finland's Kimi Raikkonen at the Mercedes-powered squad in what will be one of the most followed rivalries next season.

Coulthard said, despite their different personalities, Raikkonen and Montoya will not cause problems to McLaren.

"They are two very fast guys and, like everyone, I'm curious to see who will win the fight, but I don't think their rivalry will cause big problems to the team," he said.