Coulthard Plays Down Role in Showdown

David Coulthard, teammate of defending Formula One champion Mika Hakkinen, played down on Saturday his chances of influencing the championship showdown between the Finn and Germany's Michael Schumacher.

Coulthard took third place in Saturday's qualifying session, putting him just behind the front row occupied by Finland's Hakkinen and Schumacher, who snatched pole position.

There have been speculations that team tactics would come into play during the race, but the Briton said this was being overplayed, adding he had "the best seat in the house" to watch the two title contenders.

"There's been so much talk about this and I think everyone's overplaying what teams can actually do," the British driver told reporters after his qualifying run.

"I've got the best seat in the house to watch what happens. I can't be miraculously put in front of Michael or anything like that.

"If I get in front of one of them, who knows what will happen, but we'll have to see what happens at the start first of all."

Coulthard has 63 points going into Sunday's penultimate race of the season, meaning he has no chance of winning the drivers' championship.

But his McLaren teammate Hakkinen, with 80 points, is just eight points behind Schumacher and realistically needs to finish ahead of the German's Ferrari to stay in the hunt for his third straight title.

"I just want to try to do my best," Coulthard said. "I've struggled a bit this weekend to find my balance and to attack the circuit, so I didn't think I had a competitive chance to get on the front row."