Anniversary reminds Coulthard how far he has fallen

The anniversary is an all too painful reminder to David Coulthard of how far he has slithered down the World Championship pecking order. A year ago he was on Michael Schumacher's shoulder and took pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix to convince even the more sceptical that he was a credible threat to the German.

Now he smiles ruefully as he considers his prospects of repeating the feat in today's qualifying session for the 60th running of the sport's blue riband event, "in my dreams'', he says.

The course of Coulthard's fortunes since he sat at the front of the grid here is the stuff of nightmares. In that race his McLaren-Mercedes was left behind at the start and his challenge for the title never recovered. Pole positions, let alone wins, were out of reach. He became an ever-distant second-best to the Ferrari driver. This season offered fresh hope, perhaps greater hope. With Mika Hakkinen, McLaren's long-favoured son, on sabbatical, Coulthard assumed the role of senior partner and preparations seemed to indicate he had the car to complete the job. Another illusion. Six rounds into the championship, Coulthard is fifth in the standings, 44 points behind Schumacher.

Coulthard, 31, acknowledged: "It's gone downhill for me since we were here last year. I felt strong going to Melbourne for the start of this season and it was a bit of a shock to find out we were not as strong as we thought we were. We were still close to Ferrari when we came to this race last year but I would be surprised if we knocked Ferrari off their perch this time because they have such a good package.''

McLaren's package is currently no match for Ferrari's or Williams BMW's, and only marginally better than Renault's and Sauber's. Coulthard, having come to terms with this latest lost cause, is ready to play his part. He contends the pendulum will swing again and that he will still be around to capitalise. He said: "We are all working to improve the package. It's not as enjoyable as qualifying for poles and racing for wins, but it's a different kind of challenge. It doesn't mean you believe you can't win because that would be lowering your sights and settling for second best, and I would never do that.

"Complaining and going on about the car is not going to be helpful. I need to take the knocks with the team. I'm in the prime-time of my career and hopefully that period will last for a few more years yet.''

The pace and confidence of Raikkonen, as well as the spectre of Hakkinen, appear to cloud Coulthard's future. However, he maintains he has a secure contract from next year.

Hakkinen also enjoyed the benefit of loyal support from Coulthard, who ceded victories to him in 1997 and 1998. Coulthard is, therefore, better qualified than most to pass comment on the rumbling Ferrari affair. He suggests the newer followers of the sport need to be educated in the "small details'', such as the contractual obligations that have always featured in motor racing. "The rule on team orders is quite clear,'' he says, "there is no rule.''

There is, though, palpable disquiet that Rubens Barrichello should have slowed down yards from the line to allow Schumacher through a fortnight ago. Again, Coulthard raises a valid point: "Ferrari were totally open in what they did. If you make such a strategy illegal you merely drive it underground, because it will still go on.''

Some hysterical commentators would have us believe this is the end of Formula One as we knew it, and the authorities are evidently putting pressure on Ferrari to ensure they do not repeat the dubious spectacle in tomorrow's race. However, there are those who savour every minute of airtime and every column inch commanded by the controversy.

Ian Phillips, commercial director of the Jordan team, said: "What Ferrari did has kept Formula One on the front and back pages. Monaco is Monaco. It's still the one that the Americans, especially, love and a lot of people who take decisions for sponsoring companies are American. Monaco is the jewel in the crown."