Highlights

Red Bull hints Coulthard could stay in 2007

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-05-30 09:01

LONDON, May 29 - Red Bull team chief Christian Horner has dropped a strong hint that David Coulthard could be racing with the Formula One team again next year.

"I'm very happy with the job that he's doing and he and I get along very well," he told reporters after the 35-year-old Scot handed Red Bull their first podium finish with third place in Monaco on Sunday.

"If a relationship's working and it's right, then why stop it?," he said.

Horner described Coulthard, winner 13 times in his 201 races, as a team player whose driving skills were still sharp.

"He enjoys driving for us, he can see the team is getting stronger and stronger with every week and he knows what's coming," he said.

"This year's another building year for us and he's very keen to be part of the team going forward and we won't be making any decisions about drivers until later in the summer."

Coulthard's team mate this year is Austrian Christian Klien but Red Bull have two teams after buying Minardi and renaming it Toro Rosso.

Red Bull, owned by Austrian energy drink billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, rescued Coulthard's career at the end of 2004 when they signed him after he became surplus to requirements at McLaren.

The Briton, two times a winner in Monaco with McLaren, is eager to stay on in 2007 -- particularly now that former McLaren designer Adrian Newey has come on board and will have a big input into the new car.

"I think results, naturally, don't do any harm but the reality is that the conversations regarding next year are ongoing and have been and it is quite clear what my intention is," said Coulthard. "In a matter of course there will be an announcement."

Horner said age was no barrier to Coulthard's continuing, with the driver fit and motivated.