MAY 23, 2001

McLaren does not have best package - Coulthard

MCLAREN's David Coulthard believes his team still have plenty to do if he is to continue his championship challenge.

Coulthard is just four points behind Michael Schumacher in the championship, and has been backed by the Ferrari driver as McLaren's major challenger.

But that accolade will not change Coulthard's approach. "It doesn't change anything," said Coulthard. "I will do the best I can and develop the car.

"We still have a lot of work to do - we don't have the best package in terms of getting performance out of the car."

But Coulthard, who won in Monaco last year, will be hoping he can ride his current wave of fortune once more, although he knows the Monaco circuit is difficult.

"It's difficult to judge the track surface - that is the most important thing," he said. "We are trying to develop this tire for this track.

"It is tight and twisty, and I think it is slightly better than Barcelona, but we can only test at the tracks that are available."