Coulthard Hints at Red Bull Deal

Britain's David Coulthard has signalled that a move to the Red Bull Racing Formula One team could be on the horizon.

"I can't say today that I will drive for Red Bull Racing, but maybe in a few days I can say that," the BBC quoted the Scot as saying today. He also told Eurosport television, when asked where he would be next year: "I'm going to be on the grid in Formula One and we just need to put everything in order before making the announcement."

Coulthard, 33, has been replaced at McLaren by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya and Red Bull, the former Jaguar team bought by Austrian energy drink billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, represent his best chance of staying in the sport.

"Their position is that they are the team that's most likely because of the availability they have and the position they are in," said Coulthard, taking part in a charity 'Race of Champions' in Paris on Saturday.

"There are no doors closed. Until someone signs a contract there's always hope and always possibilities," he added.

Austrian Christian Klien, who drove for Jaguar this year, and Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi are Red Bull-backed drivers who have been testing for the team this week and are strong candidates to race in 2005.

However Mateschitz has questioned the wisdom of running two raw youngsters and has said that Coulthard was top of the list of available and experienced drivers.

The Scot has won 13 grands prix in his career with Williams and McLaren, more than any other active driver other than Ferrari's seven-times World Champion Michael Schumacher who won that many this year alone.

"We're exploring all opportunities," Coulthard's manager Martin Brundle, the former Formula One racer turned television commentator, said this week. "And Red Bull Racing would unquestionably be one of them."