Coulthard rues another lost pole

The Scot, who finished second to Schumacher last year, starts from the second row for the first time this season after the German stole the place alongside Mika Hakkinen on pole.

Coulthard appeared to have the upper hand at the start of the session after setting fastest time, but as the battle hotted up between Hakkinen and Schumacher he was demoted to third.

The smallest of mistakes at Rivazza ultimately cost him a place on the front row.

'It was always going to be close in qualifying,' he said. 'I had potential to be quicker but I made a mistake running wide at the second Rivazza ran wide and lost acceleration all the way down the straight.

'I'll just have to settle for third and wait and see what happens in the race. Hopefully our strategy will give me a chance to win.'