Formula 1 news

McLaren is not a winner - Coulthard

McLaren's improved 'B spec' Formula One charger must be even better if it is going to win even a single grand prix this season, David Coulthard has warned. Following the impressive pace of Kimi Raikkonen in Germany before a wing failure, one British hack rolled into Hungaroring's paddock feeling nervous ...he said he'd run naked around the track if the '19' ever won.

But Raikkonen's veteran team-mate, a Scot, said the nonetheless heavily revised MP4-19B racer 'still has some characteristics' of its dreadful predecessor. Coulthard commented: "I don't think they're good characteristics. But I won't complain because it is better and the car is quicker."

The 33-year-old revealed the 'B' car has a 'slightly' more stable rear. "That gives you confidence under braking," he said, "even if this has all come a bit late in the season.  But with our resources, we pulled it around."

David and Kimi didn't fly in Budapest, but Coulthard said the step in performance on the '04 Mercedes engine has been nothing short of 'massive. "It's also a lot more reliable," he marvelled. I was lapped at most races up to Magny-Cours but look at where we are now."

But just when Coulthard, McLaren's outgoing nine-year veteran, might justifiably be feeling F1 is getting a bit old, he said 2004 'has not put me off' racing.

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