Red Bull May Extend Coulthard Deal

Coulthard, who left McLaren at the end of a disappointing season last year, secured a drive with Red Bull in the closing days of 2005 after the team convinced owner Dietrich Mateschitz he could not run two young drivers.

Coulthard's arrival helped rookies Christian Klien, who drove for Jaguar last year, and Vitantonio Liuzzi, who is the F3000 world champion, learn the ropes this season and he has scored 10 points for the team so far.

Mateschitz was quoted as saying earlier this season, however, that the Scot would be dropped at the end of the year to make way for the two rookies, who currently share the second seat, once they had a season of experience.

But Horner said: "The way things are going at the moment there is no reason why we would want to change. He has been doing an excellent job and he brings a stability and great experience to the team."

Coulthard has won 13 Grands Prix and been on the podium more than 50 times in his Grand Prix career, which began when he was drafted in as a replacement for Ayrton Senna when the three-time world champion died at Imola.

The Scot has always been a long-term driver, racing for one-and-a-half seasons with Williams before switching to McLaren where he struck up a long partnership with first Mika Hakkinen and then Kimi Raikkonen.

He has never had the cutting edge to make him a champion but his experience is ideal for Red Bull and Horner added: "He has taught the young guys a hell of a lot already this season."