04/11/2004
NEWS STORY
Facing his first season out of F1 since 1994, David Coulthard has not given up hope of securing a drive for 2005, and is reported to be targeting the team that brought him into F1, WilliamsF1.
The Scot made his F1 debut with WilliamsF1 in Spain 1994, as the British outfit attempted to recover in the wake of Ayrton Senna's death at Imola, two races earlier.
In his efforts to remain in F1, the veteran - who has competed in 175 GPs, winning 13 of them - is understood to have visited WilliamsF1's Grove HQ in a last-ditch effort to 'sell' himself to his former employers.
"I quite simply want the opportunity to show what I can do at a team outside the nine years I had at McLaren," Coulthard told the BBC. "I believe I can deliver.
"I can't deny I haven't been up with Kimi in the second half of the season," he added. "But that's not because I ran out of talent.
"You've got to be mentally and physically well-prepared and that's very difficult to do in a position where you know you're not wanted."
Even before the 2004 season got underway, McLaren had revealed its 2005 line-up, Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya. The Woking outfit has offered Coulthard a 'role' within the team, but he is adamant that he wants to continue racing.
The Contract Recognition Board's (CRB) decision to uphold Jenson Button's contract with BAR, means that WilliamsF1 needs to find a partner for Mark Webber, Coulthard is one of a number of drivers hoping to get the call.
Former world champion Mika Hakkinen has been linked with the Grove outfit, however our sources claim that this will not happen and that the Finn has decided not to return to F1.