Buoyed by the performance of the 'new' MP4-19B at Magny-Cours, David Coulthard is looking forward to this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The Scot has won the event twice before, but this year's race has an even greater significance. With Juan Pablo Montoya heading to Woking for 2005, Coulthard has yet to secure a drive for the coming season.
McLaren has suggested that it would like to retain the Scot's services as test driver, but DC wants to race. With Ralf Schumacher heading to Toyota, there are only two likely scenarios, one has the Scot returning to WilliamsF1, the team that gave him his F1 break, or more likely, joining Jaguar to replace Mark Webber who is almost certain to head to Grove at season end.
Though 2005 is very much on Coulthard's mind, first he has to concentrate of the job in hand, at Silverstone.
Following his strong performance in France, DC is convinced that he can do well this weekend.
"I should have been fourth in France," he told reporters ahead of this weekend's big race, "but a technical problem bogged the car down at the start and I lost two places.
"I was 30 seconds down on Michael," he admits, "bet let's not forget we were being lapped at the beginning of the season. The new car is at least two-tenths a lap quicker and that gives me a lot of hope for Silverstone."
Having enjoyed the limelight as the leading 'Brit' for some time, Coulthard is now regularly upstaged by BAR's Jenson Button, but this doesn't bother the thirteen-time GP winner.
"I know a lot of people are expecting Jenson Button to do well. But I feel I can make it on to the podium and, who knows, maybe even win," he says defiantly.
The other person that DC is keen to beat is his own teammate, Kimi Raikkonen. After years of (seemingly) playing support to Mika Hakkinen, Coulthard finds himself cast in a similar role with yet another Finn.
"Kimi is looked on by some people as the best driver on the grid," says Coulthard. "Now I have eight races left to prove them wrong. This season there have been several races where I have been much stronger than Kimi and he is regarded as a future world champion. That shows I still have what it takes. My aim is to keep on upstaging him and reminding people I am a driver capable of winning races."
In his eleventh year of F1, some would say that Coulthard has had his day and is getting a little long in the tooth, and should maybe be considering hanging up his helmet. The Scot will not entertain such talk.
"It was nice sitting near the front of the grid in France and not having to look up everyone's exhaust pipes," he says. "When I first started in F1 10 years ago, some of the guys I am racing against now were just 12 years old. Age has nothing to do with it and I know I can still beat them. That's why I am 100-per-cent confident of driving in Formula One next season."
Unlike his current teammate, and indeed the man destined to join McLaren for 2005, Coulthard isn't known for tantrums or outbursts of emotion: "I don't have extremes of temper or a Latin temperament," he says, smiling. "That's why I don't get out of the car when things have gone wrong and throw my gloves on the ground, stamp on them and walk away, even if it might make me feel better or look good on TV.
"I cope with the bad times and the happy times in the same way. It's just the way I am. Yet it doesn't mean I'm not aggressive on the track or don't want to win."
On his day, DC can be magnificent, and one of the few drivers able to take on Schumacher, but it is his lack of consistency that lets him down.
That said, with 166 Grands Prix and 13 wins on his CV, surely there must be at least one team boss willing to give the Scot another season.
"I have my results to use as a calling card and that should be enough, as they are not in the distant past," he says. "But a race weekend is the best time to influence team owners. They can see what is happening on the track and take in what you are doing. I'm a low-risk option to any team. They know I am going to win races given the right car. I have a lot of experience and understanding of what it takes to work with a team and sponsors.
"In the cold light of day, if you have a choice between someone with a known track record, ability and work ethic and someone that you know nothing about, other than they might have potential, it is a no brainer.
"I've seen guys who have come in with a reputation of being the dog's dangly bits and then drop out after a year."
Too true David, too true.
