Mika Hakkinen stalled at the start of the Austrian grand prix because he made a mistake, his McLaren team-mate David Coulthard said today. "My understanding is that he did the wrong thing, so it was a driver error," the Scot told a news conference before Sunday's Formula One race in Monaco. "That can happen at any time. I could make the same mistake, but hopefully not," he added.
Two times world champion Hakkinen has been stranded twice on the grid this season and the Finn has taken just four points in six races while Coulthard is second in the title race with 38. "We're not sure exactly what the problem was," Hakkinen had said in Austria at the time. "It could be technical, or it could be me."
Coulthard has also had his own problems on the grid, stalling on the warm-up for the Spanish grand prix but rescuing the situation to finish fifth after starting at the back of the grid. His problem was diagnosed as a system difficulty with the new electronic 'launch control' software but only after team boss Ron Dennis had publicly accused the Scot of 'brain fade'.
Coulthard, who won here last year, said he would be using the system again in Monaco despite fears raised by some drivers that there could be a repeat of the situation in Austria, where four cars were left behind at the start. That, in the confined quarters of Monaco's street circuit, could lead to disaster but Coulthard was confident McLaren had overcome any problems.
"It's quicker, there's no question," said Coulthard of the system. "To rely solely on the traction control is a slower way of starting for us. I think that one problem we had in Barcelona was the only thing that we missed." (Reuters)
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
