Hakkinen roars to Silverstone glory

13 April 2012

David Coulthard's title hopes were left in tatters as he slid out of a British Grand Prix won in emphatic fashion by team-mate Mika Hakkinen at Silverstone today.

The 30-year-old ended up in a gravel trap after just three laps having damaged the suspension on his McLaren in a first corner collision with Jordan's Jarno Trulli.

Championship leader Michael Schumacher had to settle for second place for Ferrari but that was enough to extend his lead to a mammoth 37 points with just sixraces left.

The title holder never looked likely to equal Alain Prost's record of 51 career wins as he came home 33.6 seconds adrift of Hakkinen but is closer to his fourthdrivers' crown. Brazil's Rubens Barrichello was third in the other Ferrari followed by Juan Pablo Montoya in the Williams BMW with the Sauber's of KimiRaikkonen and Nick Heidfeld fifth and sixth.

Eddie Irvine was ninth for Jaguar Racing with Jenson Button 15th for Benetton on the track where he finished a stunning fifth on his British Grand Prix bow withWilliams last year.

Coulthard insisted that Trulli was at fault for the incident at Copse as he tried to cling onto third spot from the Italian who had made a better start from fourth on thegrid.

The Scot, bidding to become the first man since countryman Jim Clark to win the race three years in succession, was clouted into the pit-lane as they battled forsupremacy.

Coulthard managed to keep his car going but dropped to the back of the field while Trulli slid out, but the damage to the car eventually put paid to his chances as hewas suddenly sent skidding into the gravel a few laps later.

"I'm sure Jarno is very fired up and with the red mist down, but I turned in and had track position," said Coulthard."Two into one doesn't go and he's hit me on the right rear suspension. I really felt it. It knocked me sideways massively.

"I know we will have different opinions on it, but I was slightly ahead so I felt I had the line for the corner. It's very disappointing but I can't change what'shappened."

Trulli told Coulthard he should have thought about his title hopes before attempting to win their battle in the opening seconds of the 60-lap race.

"His world title hopes are now over and that's why I think he should have taken it more easy at the first corner, particularly when you are on the outside," said Trulli.

"I had a very good start and I was next to him by the first corner. I don't know if he didn't see me but he just didn't want to give up.

"He was on the outside line and he tried to close the door and so I couldn't avoid the accident. There was no more space for me. Coulthard insisted he was notgiving up on the title but heads for Schumacher's home German Grand Prix at Hockenheim knowing it will take a miracle for him to now overhaul his rival.

"I'm not giving up on the championship because a lot could still happen," said Coulthard after failing to finish a race for only the second time in 11 starts this season.

Hakkinen's first victory in 15 races since Belgium last August proved that McLaren-Mercedes had the pace to better Schumacher's Ferrari at Silverstone. The Finnwho has insisted this week that he has no thought about retiring despite a nightmare campaign was back to the blistering best that brought him world titles in 1998and 1999.

Hakkinen used his lighter fuel load to devastating effect to shoot past leader Schumacher on lap five. The 32-year-old had stopped twice before Schumacher madehis only pit for fresh fuel and tyres before scoring the 20th victory of his career with ease.

Barrichello, who regained third place in the championship, was over a minute down in third spot.

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