Thursday March 9th, 2000

"Very hungry for more success" is how McLaren-Mercedes star David Coulthard described himself at the team's official press conference in Melbourne this morning.

"I don't feel as if I've under-achieved," said the Scot in answer to one questioner. "I'm sitting here aged 28 - and that's the age at which Mika (Hakkinen) won his first Grand Prix.

"I've only driven for the two best teams," added Coulthard, who was with Williams before moving to McLaren in 1996. "That means I've done my learning at the front end."

Both drivers and team principal Ron Dennis were at pains to point out that they have done no pre-season testing on the same track at the same time as their main title rivals, Ferrari. "That's what makes the first race so exciting," said Coulthard. "It's when you find out exactly where you are in regard to the people you expect to be your main competition."