Qualifying question for Coulthard

David Coulthard believes Saturday’s qualifying session will make or break his bid to score points in a landmark Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Scotsman becomes Britain’s most experienced Formula One driver in the Hungarian Grand Prix when he notches up his 188th start – one more than former world champion Nigel Mansell.

But Coulthard’s latest landmark, coming just a few months after he became Britain’s top points scorer, could pass without celebration if qualifying goes badly.

Red Bull have struggled in qualifying recently, leaving Coulthard to fight his way through the field if he is to score points.

That kind of battling drive, the like of which earned him seventh place in Germany last weekend from 11th on the grid, will be virtually impossile at the Hungaroring.

The twisty track on the outskirts of Budapest makes overtaking nearly impossible and Coulthard knows a strong qualifying performance is the only way he can fight for points to add to the 19 he already has.

He said: “We have an updated aerodynamic package which we tested in Jerez that we didn’t have in Hockenheim so that should give us more performance.

“Otherwise you have got to say it will not be significantly different to Hockenheim. If we can qualify in a reasonable place we know our race pace is good compared to the others.

“Our qualifying pace is our weak link. Qualifying is so important here because it’s so difficult to overtake.”

Coulthard expressed his pride at passing Mansell’s mark of grands prix starts.

“I think I am fourth in the all-time points list, just ahead of Nelson Piquet,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult to beat Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost on points but nonetheless it’s not a world championship but you don’t end up doing that amount of grands prix and scoring as many points as I have by accident.

“Irrespective of what anyone’s opnion is of me I can still be proud of having the longevity and the points that I have in Formula One.”

Coulthard’s former world championship rival Michael Schumacher is the most experienced driver on the grid this weekend but the Ferrari ace does not expect that to help him to victory.

The German is now focusing his attentions on 2006 when he aims to regain the world title he is almost certain to lose to either Fernando Alonso or Kimi Raikkonen.

“It is natural from where we are that there is only one target and that is to go for the next championship,” he said. “This year it is not possible.”