Coulthard unruffled by Montoya speculation

David Coulthard is confident he will soon be confirmed as a McLaren driver for a ninth successive season.

The 32-year-old Scot will again partner Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen in 2004 despite rumours linking the Mercedes-powered team with Williams-BMW’s Juan Pablo Montoya.

“Punches hurt, stories don’t,” said Coulthard. “I have always worked on the basis of what I know – and I know my contractual position.

“So it’s a question now of waiting until the team are in a position to make an announcement.”

Mercedes boss Norbert Haug has hinted there will be no change to the driver line-up even though no announcement is expected to be made in their home race in Germany this weekend.

“Maybe we won’t surprise you at all. That’s definitely the plan but a couple of things need to be sorted out,” said Haug ahead of Sunday’s race at Hockenheim.

“I personally do not expect surprises for next year.

“Whatever you read about us offering however many millions to other teams to get their drivers, forget it.

“It is not correct to say that and nothing like that is going on. We are not the guys to be in breach of contract and stuff like that, that is just not right.”

Montoya could still be a target for 2005 although Coulthard insists he is not worried about the speculation over his future F1 prospects.

“It’s not a personal attack on me,” said Coulthard.

“There’s no question that my weak area this year has been qualifying but my pace in terms of driving the car and race laps has absolutely been on it.

“I’m not struggling for a lap time so from that point of view, I don’t believe I have any worries.”

The Monaco-based racer is currently seventh in the drivers’ championship – 29 points behind second-placed Raikkonen who is only seven adrift of Ferrari pacesetter Michael Schumacher.

The hold-up to McLaren’s line-up is understood to be due to the role of reserve and test driver Alexander Wurz.

The former Benetton driver is looking for a race seat and was almost signed by Jaguar earlier in the season as replacement for Antonio Pizzonia.

Jaguar recently axed Pizzonia and replaced him with Britain’s Justin Wilson for the remaining five races this season though no decision on who will partner Mark Webber in 2004 has been made yet.

“It really depends on him (Wurz),” added Haug. “We are in discussion with him. If he comes to us and says definitely I want to race, we would not stand in his way.”