Coulthard Hints at Staying at McLaren

Scot David Coulthard has hinted that he is set to stay at the McLaren team for another season despite rumours that he could leave the British squad to make way for former teammate Mika Hakkinen, taking a sabbatical year from racing.

31-year old Coulthard is in his seventh season with the Woking-based squad and rumours have emerged recently that he could be set to leave.

British Former Formula One driver John Watson suggested last weekend that the Scot should move to rookies Toyota in 2003, claiming that the future of the McLaren squad belongs to teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

"Coulthard won't be at McLaren next year and Toyota is a team going places. I think it would be the right move for him," Watson told The Sunday Mirror. "Just as McLaren brought in Mika Hakkinen when they knew Ayrton Senna was on his way out of the team, so they brought in Kimi this year to be tutored.

"David is there as cannon-fodder for Kimi. David is not the future for McLaren, Kimi is."

But the Scot hit out at the claims today at the Nurburgring circuit and insisted that he has been reassured his future lies with McLaren next year by team boss Ron Dennis.

"I think I've made my feelings quite clear," said Coulthard during today's press conference for the European Grand Prix. "I spoke to Ron in the week and my position in the team is clear.

"But they (McLaren) are going to wait to make an announcement until the other position in the team is clarified."