Coulthard: I Did Everything I Could this Season

McLaren's David Coulthard said he did his best in the 2001 season to finish in second place behind Michael Schumacher in the Championship.

Coulthard finished Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix in third place to secure his runner-up spot, a massive 58 points behind Ferrari's World Champion Schumacher, after teammate Mika Hakkinen decided to let the Scot through because he "wanted to give him something back for the occasions in the past when he has helped me."

The Scot driver, who will have Finn Kimi Raikkonen as his teammate in 2002 after Hakkinen decided to take a break from racing, was thankful for the gesture.

"I did everything I could this year," said Coulthard. "Second place was the best I could do - but there is a big points gap to Michael. I didn't know Mika was going to help me.

"I think Mika let me past towards the end of the race as a goodwill gesture and I will thank him later. I think it was probably to avoid having to come and deal with interviews and everything afterwards.

"There is no doubt that I have enjoyed working with him for the past six years and liked our battles. I look forward to working with Kimi, and I'm sure he will be pushing me very hard.

"I'm having a small break before going back to work on next year's car and our 2002 Championship challenge."