DC: Red Bull means business

David Coulthard said that his Red Bull Racing team's double points finish on their debut in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix proves they mean business this season.

Coulthard started from fourth on the grid after getting lucky with the weather in Saturday qualifying but he showed he had the pace to stay there as he fought at the front and remained in contention throughout the race.

The Scot, who joined the team from McLaren, dropped out of a potential podium position at the last set of pit stops and finished fourth while team-mate Christian Klien claimed seventh place.

And Coulthard said: "We benefited a lot from qualifying, but we have to be very happy that in Red Bull Racing's first Grand Prix both Christian and I have finished in the points.

"I think I lost a lot of time in traffic - it seemed like I had to overtake six Jordans out there! - and we lost time in two other incidents but to finish as we did is just great.”

Coulthard took a gamble in joining the fresh new team, which grew from the ashes of Jaguar Racing, when he was forced to leave his comfort zone with McLaren after nine years with the Woking-based team.

Many observers claimed he should have stepped down to accept a testing role that McLaren boss Ron Dennis had offered him or quit the sport completely and he was delighted to show them he still has what it takes.

"A lot of people have given opinions that I should go do something else,"he said. "Red Bull gave me the opportunity to continue racing and today I dreamed I could make it on the podium, but I can still dream of that.

"I think we did it the right way. I drove car first of all in Jerez before making the decision and I knew after the first test that the guys have all the ingredients to run at the front.

"They just need resources, money and development, but the whole human side of it all is there. And I have to thank the construction guys because when I hit the Minardi I though things would fall off but it all held together!”

Dennis watched on as Coulthard benefited from his lucky break in qualifying to beat both of his old team's cars and he immediately offered him congratulations for a job well done.

"It is a young team but that car has been well developed,"said Dennis. "David had a good drive and I am happy for his fourth place but lets just say the only people in front of us that concerns us is the Renaults.”