DC: Silverstone provides welcome variety

The McLaren-Mercedes driver leapt to the defence of the Northamptonshire venue last week after it came in for criticism from Formula 1 bosses Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone, but in the pre-British Grand Prix press conference Coulthard suggested that too many of F1's modern circuits are the same.

"A lot of the current circuits are very similar, which is not surprising when they use the same designer every time [Hermann Tilke], but variety is always good.

"If you take the last race, for example, the hairpin at Magny-Cours is good because there is room on the exit which opens some possibility for overtaking. That exists at Silverstone as well, because if the car ahead has a bit of understeer through the Becketts complex, you can slipstream down into Stowe. In the wet too, there are quite a few different lines, for instance going wide or staying tight out of club. So, in my opinion, it's interesting."

Coulthard, a British Racing Drivers' Club member, has said that he is not taking sides in the argument over whether Silverstone is substandard in F1 terms, but admits he is confused as to why it has come in for so much criticism.

"I've seen some of the negative press that has been given to Silverstone and although I don't understand the various agendas at work and I'm not batting for either side, I must say I don't really understand it," the Scot said.

"I think that if you ask drivers about their favourite circuit, most will say Spa-Francorchamps. But Silverstone is an interesting challenge and, historically, the British GP is an important race and one I enjoy coming to. It has high-speed corners and it's always nice to feel the car at high speeds. The Becketts complex is one of the better places in the world for spectators to watch cars at high speed.