Coulthard not interested in talk

The McLaren-Mercedes driver is just four points behind reigning world champ Schumacher in this year's title chase after winning in Austria a fortnight ago. Coulthard has been close before, but the Ferrari ace has always insisted DC's McLaren team mate Mika Hakkinen would emerge as his main rival.

Hakkinen is 38 points adrift of Schumacher and has all but ruled out his chances of resurrecting his title hopes. But Coulthard did not even raise a smile when Schumacher's words were put to him.

"It doesn't change anything," he said. "I am just taking the races as they come and trying to do the best I can and develop the car because I still think we have a lot of work. I don't think we have the best package out there on the track at the moment. I will just be concentrating on that. What other people say is just fill-in paragraphs for journalists' stories."

Coulthard was the first Brit to win in Monte Carlo for 27 years when he triumphed round the twisty street circuit last year.

"It is all to play for again and we have got to develop the car as best we can and try to make the right decision on tyres for qualifying, which is very important here. There are only 10 points available for this one, like all the others."