McLaren keeping their options open
LONDON, England -- McLaren are keeping their options open about their 2005 driver lineup despite widespread rumours that Briton David Coulthard will be axed.
"At the moment we do not want to confirm our complete 2005 driver lineup," said a McLaren spokesperson, as speculation flared once again.
Juan Pablo Montoya has a contract with McLaren for 2005 and bosses have made it clear they see Finland's Kimi Raikkonen, Coulthard's current team mate, as a future champion.
"We have an option on a number of drivers and as always want to make sure we are in the best possible position to win races and world championships," added the spokesman.
Raikkonen was overall runner-up to Ferrari's Michael Schumacher in this year's world championship while Coulthard was seventh. Both Raikkonen and Coulthard are confirmed for the 2004 season.
Coulthard's manager Martin Brundle reinforced the view that the Scot will be the one to go, when he said this week that Coulthard would have to perform far better next year to stay with a top team.
"David badly wants to drive in 2005 but he will have to drive well all season to give us a chance of finding him a competitive seat," said Brundle.
"He didn't get the job done in the middle of last season and that was when McLaren started looking around and thinking about taking on Montoya."
The 32-year-old has been at McLaren since the start of the 1996 season and was world championship runner-up in 2001.
