Coulthard makes history

David Coulthard made a small piece of Formula One history when he signed to become Red Bull Racing’s first race driver.

The Scot yesterday concluded negotiations over a contract for 2005 by signing a one-year deal to compete in his 12th successive Formula One season.

Coulthard was left without a Formula One drive after being replaced by Juan Pablo Montoya at McLaren for 2005.

He agreed to race for Jaguar next season before the team were put up for sale by parent company Ford – but after Red Bull’s buy-out he has eventually found his way to Milton Keynes.

Coulthard always insisted he would fight for his Formula One future and even considered taking a year out before returning in 2006 if his search for a drive next season was unsuccessful.

That will not be necessary now after Red Bull bosses chose him to spearhead their entry into Formula One.

Earlier this month he described his eagerness to continue racing, even if it meant a step down the grid.

Coulthard, who has driven for McLaren and Williams since making his debut in 1994, said: “My motivation and enjoyment in driving are absolute and despite the disappointments that I have had in the last couple of seasons, I still want to compete.

“People have asked me: 'How do you find motivation to drive a car that is not one of the named top three or four teams?' Quite clearly you derive enjoyment from driving a car no matter where you are going to finish and that is where you find your motivation.”

Coulthard’s partner at the new team has yet to be confirmed, although Christian Klien is expected to pip Vitantonio Liuzzi to the seat when a decision is announced in the new year.

Klien drove for Jaguar last season on the back of substantial Red Bull backing and despite a largely disappointing campaign, that experience is expected to earn the Austrian the drive.

Liuzzi, who won the International Formula 3000 title last season, has impressed in testing and is tipped to start the season as Red Bull’s third driver, primed as a replacement for Klien should he not improve on his Jaguar showing.