Wilson Could Clinch Melbourne Pole, Says Coulthard

Briton David Coulthard believes countryman Justin Wilson could claim pole position in next month's Australian Grand Prix because new rules have made a mockery of qualifying.

Teams are no longer allowed to refuel their cars between qualifying and the race, but Wilson's back-of-the-grid Minardi outfit could run on empty to jump in front of the leading teams.

Wilson, who will make his Formula One debut in Melbourne on March 9, would then have to stop after the first lap of the race to refuel, but the publicity could help his team net a vital financial windfall.

"There is a fair chance that Minardi will be going for glory in Australia so you could get Justin on pole," said Coulthard. "But I am not sure how good that would be for the sport. It is going to be exciting but the manufacturers pay lots of money to display their high-tech supremacy and if they had a Minardi in front of them it doesn't look good."

Coulthard believes the new single-lap qualifying sessions will liven up proceedings and could create some exciting racing, but said the sport is rapidly becoming less and less about the driver.

"It is no longer about the ultimate lap time it is about juggling strategy," said Coulthard. "It stimulates public interest but as a racing driver it is not particularly good."

Each driver will individually set one lap time to decide when they will go out in the following day's second session to set the time that will determine their place on the grid.