Formula 1: Frustration for Coulthard, joy for Hakkinen

Coulthard, already 31 points behind Ferrari rival Michael Schumacher with just six races left after today’s 60-lap encounter, found himself 18th at the end of the first lap.

But any thoughts he had of battling his way into a points-scoring position were ended a couple of circuits later when his suspension - probably damaged in the incident with Trulli - failed.

The Scot was helpless as his car was sent sliding into the gravel trap at the Luffield complex of the former WWII airfield to the intense disappointment of his fans in the 100,000-strong crowd.

Coulthard’s hopes of becoming the first driver since countryman Jim Clark to claim a hat-trick of victories in Britain were ended, but the more serious blow was to his already flagging title hopes.

Coulthard was left looking for a huge favour from McLaren team-mate Mika Hakkinen, who was lying second to Schumacher after they both made decent starts from the front row of the grid.

The Finn soon granted Coulthard his wish as he darted down the inside of Schumacher as his old rival drifted too wide at Becketts on lap five.

Hakkinen finished the lap with a lead of almost two seconds and by lap 10 had extended it to just over 11 seconds.

But the former two-time champion was probably benefiting from a much lighter fuel load, looking to be on a two-stop strategy compared to a probable one-stop for the German.

Hakkinen, who has never won the race at Silverstone, was clearly on a charge as he extended his lead to just over 20.3 seconds after just 15 laps.

The 32-year-old was looking to build up a big enough advantage to protect him because of the likely extra stop. But Schumacher was also struggling to keep the Williams of Juan Pablo Montoya behind him but failed as the Colombian roared past on lap 18.

It is the second time this season that the Colombian rookie has overtaken the three-time champion on the track having done so in only his second race in Brazil.

Hakkinen came in for fresh fuel and tyres at the end of lap 21 and relinquished the lead to Montoya who roared past as the McLaren driver was set-off again by his team.

But, more crucially, Hakkinen re-merged onto the track still ahead of Schumacher who he had led by about 30 seconds as he headed into the pit-lane.