Formula 1: Coulthard looks sharp

David Coulthard kept alive his fading world championship dreams by proving quickest in warm up ahead of this afternoon’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

Coulthard, 37 points behind Michael Schumacher in the drivers’ championship with just five races remaining, has threatened a first corner showdown with the German at the Hungaroing.

Due to the tight, twisty nature of the circuit where overtaking is a problem, the 30-year-old believes his main chance of keeping the title race going into the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps in a fortnight’s time is if he can head off Schumacher at turn one.

Coulthard starts from second on the grid after finishing an incredible 0.8 seconds behind the 32-year-old German in qualifying yesterday, with Schumacher claiming his ninth pole of the season and 41st of his career.

Schumacher, on the brink of clinching his fourth world crown, clocked the fastest qualifying time in the last 16 years the race has been staged at the 2.47-mile track of one minute and 14.059 seconds.

But in race trim this morning Coulthard was four tenths quicker in his McLaren than Schumacher in his Ferrari, setting a time of 1:16.915, compared to his rival’s 1:17.338.

Schumacher’s team-mate Rubens Barrichello and younger brother Ralf in a Williams were third and fourth respectively, reflecting their positions on the grid.

Jaguar’s Eddie Irvine, unhappy with 14th in qualifying, was 10th quickest with a time of 1:19.148, while poor Jenson Button brought up the field in 22nd place.

Button’s Benetton suffered two engine failures yesterday and was forced to use the spare car in qualifying set up for team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella, resulting in his 17th place on the grid.

It was clear there were more problems today as the 21-year-old Briton managed only eight laps, resulting in a miserable time of 1:21.397.