F1 drivers will not strike, claims Coulthard

DAVID COULTHARD insists there will be no strike by Formula One drivers this season in an apparent U-turn by the Scot.

Coulthard had suggested such action was possible due to the drivers' ongoing concerns regarding safety and medical back-up at test sessions, which falls below the standards set over the course of a grand prix weekend.

Safety has become a hot topic in Formula One since fears over the tyres supplied by Michelin forced seven teams to pull out of the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis, causing a furore.

Coulthard, one of four directors of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, had recently requested talks over the safety issue with Max Mosley, president of world governing body, the FIA.

However, Mosley cancelled a proposed meeting at Silverstone over a week ago in protest at comments made by Coulthard about recent rule changes. That meeting is now due for Cannes on August 1 the day after the Hungarian Grand Prix although that did not stop the Scot from suggesting a strike was possible.

But the Red Bull Racing driver, speaking at a function to promote next month's inaugural Turkish Grand Prix, has now backtracked. "I don't think there's any risk in the drivers taking a strike," said Coulthard.

"Formula One is very well regulated, the safety has improved fantastically over the last 10 years, and the only thing we've been working towards is improving testing safety.

"When we go testing, we do the equivalent of two grands prix, and the facilities are not as good as when we go to a grand prix."

Coulthard at least feels the many new circuits that have been developed in recent years, like those near Istanbul, have helped safety standards.

It would appear, though, not all the drivers are to head out to Cannes in a fortnight due to the inconvenience of the meeting.

"We obviously would have preferred to have the meeting at Silverstone because we were all there. But Mr Mosley said that wouldn't be convenient for him, so at the moment I believe a number of the drivers will fly together on the Monday after Budapest to Cannes, and we'll meet with him there."