Coulthard focuses on new campaign

McLaren-Mercedes' Scot needs improved car and higher status in team to deliver the world title

The quest for the 2002 Formula One World Championship began in earnest yesterday and David Coulthard may be sensing the prospect of being elevated to the position of senior driver in the McLaren-Mercedes team.

Car development is an on-going process, of course, and many of next year's challengers are already at an advanced stage of planning and creation. However, the retention of the drivers' and constructors' titles by Michael Schumacher and Ferrari at the Hungarian Grand Prix here on Sunday effectively drew a line under the current competitive season for the major players.

The ease with which the Italian camp achieved that double success compounded the hurt at McLaren. Four races remain this year and even second place in the respective championships could be denied the Anglo-German organisation.

In many respects the grand prix here characterised the season and it encapsulated McLaren's plight. They had a good car for this circuit, as Mika Hakkinen's fastest lap proved. However, they failed to capitalise on its potential and Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello gave Ferrari a one-two success.

Schumacher's ability to produce the unbeatable lap in qualifying again gave him the advantage on the grid and he exploited it ruthlessly.

McLaren have also had too many technical and mechanical failures to challenge the familiar reliability of Ferrari. The other significant factor has been the erratic form of Hakkinen, the world champion in 1998 and 1999 and widely regarded as the quickest driver after Schumacher. He would have won in Spain but for a last lap breakdown and had an emphatic victory at Silverstone.

But, overall, he has under- performed and left himself open to questions about his motivation. He, predictably, has rebuffed such accusations and stated his desire to continue racing next season. And yet speculation about his future has been rife again here this past weekend.

McLaren would have liked to name their line-up by now and will hope to do so before the end of the month. Coulthard's contract is in place, but clearly negotiations with Hakkinen have not been completed.

The Finn, 33 next month, is said to be seeking a substantial increase on his basic salary, as well as a straight two-year deal rather than the one year with a one-year option preferred by McLaren, and other guarantees.

McLaren, who have long offered their drivers incentives schemes, are understandably reluctant to make the kind of commitment Hakkinen is demanding in the light of his displays this season. The impasse has led many to believe Hakkinen may opt to walk away from the sport at the end of the year and so put a much coveted seat on the market. The problem for McLaren is that there appear to be no obvious and available candidates.

The Italians Jarno Trulli, of Jordan Honda, and Giancarlo Fisichella, of Benetton Renault, have been mentioned, but neither has provided conclusive evidence of his ability. There again, neither has had the opportunity of driving a McLaren.

Inside the paddock, Trulli is acknowledged as quick but there are doubts about his racing prowess and he is considered feeble in wet conditions. Fisichella has routinely outpaced his team-mate, Jenson Button, and may be the better bet, if given the chance in a competitive car.

Trulli, curiously managed by the Benetton team principal, Flavio Briatore, is understood to be seeking seven million dollars for next season from Jordan, who maintain they will go no higher than £5m.

Fisichella has been shackled by a long-term agreement, which was scheduled to pocket him a remarkable £13m for next season. Unfortunately for him, the team's owners, Renault, have been in no rush to take up the option on those terms.

If there is to be a new driver at McLaren, Coulthard will start next year one step ahead of his partner and believe himself to be the team's logical contender for the championship. He has, barring the occasional dip, sustained impressive form throughout this season and, at the age of 30, should be in his prime.

However, to beat Schumacher he can barely afford event the occasional dip and palpably needs a car that is, more often than not, better than the Ferrari. The Scotsman acknowledges that the whole team have to raise their game.

"We all have to improve for next year,'' Coulthard said. "We haven't made the most of our opportunities this season and we all have to share the responsibility for that.

"I believe I have improved this year and it's a pity we didn't have the sort of performance advantage we enjoyed until last year. But there have been times when I haven't quite produced my best and we have to be more consistent.

"I'm not going to be down because Michael has won the championship. That's gone now and we have to look forward, starting at the next race in Belgium. I want to win races in what is left of this season and carry on from there next season."

Ron Dennis, the McLaren team principal, acknowledged Mclaren's shortcomings this season and said: "No one is more critical of us than we are ourselves.'' McLaren have enjoyed phenomenal success over the past two decades, but are now in danger of being eclipsed not only by Ferrari but also by Williams- BMW, who have two burgeoning talents in Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya.

The younger Schumacher and Barrichello are threatening Coulthard's runner-up position in this year's championship. But all will be focused on next year and Hakkinen's situation is a crucial factor in the equation.

Another team linked with Trulli are Jaguar, whose team principal, Bobby Rahal, is said to be keen to off-load Eddie Irvine to Jordan. According to the Formula One grapevine Niki Lauda, Jaguar's overlord, stepped in and insisted that the Ulsterman had to stay.

Irvine was honest enough to blame himself for careering off the track at the first corner here. Button also owned up to his mistake when he spun and had to abandon his car. Rumours that Benetton wish to release the 21-year-old Englishman persist, despite repeated public denials.

One young driver expected to move is Minardi's Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard, another from Briatore's stable is wanted by Arrows, who recently signed an engine deal with Cosworth.