'Mika out of the chase? Don't be stupid!' says DC

Two-time champion Hakkinen has scored only one point in three races and has never won at Imola, venue for this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix - although he has led the race and started from pole.

But the Scot, who leads the Silver Arrows team's charge this season after scoring 20 points in three races, says thing could easily turn around.

"I have had a fortunate start to the season because the car has been reliable and I have made the most of the situations," said Coulthard. "Some of the incidents on the track have opened up to my benefit and I think it is just as simple as that.

"You all want to know who is hot and who is not and I think that if you are trying to suggest that Mika's not able or capable of getting round this, then I'm not quite sure what you have been smoking."

And Coulthard played down his chances of a second race win on the trot after his Brazilian Grand Prix triumph two weeks ago.

"The only thing I can take from the Brazilian Grand Prix is confidence," added Coulthard, who won the San Marino race in 1998. "There is nothing else I can take with me in terms of momentum. We are at a different track and we will have to see how the car suits it first of all."