LONDON, 15 December 2004 — McLaren discard David Coulthard looks set to be offered a way back into Formula One for the 2005 season as a driver with the new Red Bull Racing team.
The team’s managing director David Pitchforth said Coulthard impressed in testing last week and said that if the decision was his, he would sign the Scot up immediately.
“Having an experienced driver is a no-brainer,” he told itv.com.
“He’s got all the experience and ability that we need to move the team forward, so if I was asked if I would sign him then I would say yes.
“Nothing is signed yet, but we’re working on things and I hope we can come to an agreement. But I would still say things are 50-50 — they could still go either way.”
Red Bull, the Austrian drinks maker who took over Jaguar in November, also confirmed they were in talks with several other experienced drivers about a 2005 race seat.
Coulthard lost his seat at McLaren to Juan Pablo Montoya at the end of the 2004 season.
Red Bull Racing owner Dietrich Mateschitz told Autosport magazine last month that Coulthard was one of the drivers at the top of his list.
The 33-year-old has 11 years of F1 racing under his belt having started his career at Williams where he replaced Ayrton Senna after the Brazilian’s death.
