Red Bull Racing boss Chrisitan Horner promised to put the fizz back into David Coulthard this season and claimed the Scot can still step up another gear after a stunning debut for the team last weekend.

Coulthard, who was cast aside by McLaren at the end of last year, narrowly missed out on a podium when he stuck with the leaders to finish fourth in last Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.

Red Bull have given the Scot a new lease of life and Horner said: "I have known David since I was 12 and I know the type of person he is. He is still a great driver and he has got so much more to offer. We saw some of that [in Australia].

"He is in his prime and he is the best asset we have got here in this team. David's track record is unquestionable and I am sure there is a lot more to come from him."

Red Bull saved Coulthard from the Formula One scrapheap when they bought out Jaguar Racing and handed him the team leader role and the team's upbeat attitude to racing seems to fit him to a tee.

Horner believes Coulthard was pinned back by McLaren's corporate machine and said that now the Scot is free to speak his mind the more laid back he becomes the faster he will get.

"He is enjoying the environment he is in, he is relaxed and when you enjoy your job you do it better," said Horner. "Red Bull is not a car manufacturer and there are not the corporate restraints on him that there were before.

"We just want him to be his own person. He has brought experience, direction and he is in a situation where he is very much the team leader. He is responding to that and we will give him all the support he needs."
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