DC - Ferrari, McLaren on top
Tyre use could be key to pre-season pace, says Coulthard
Last updated: 6th February 2008
Red Bull's David Coulthard believes Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes are still way ahead of the rest of the Formula One field.
The F1 veteran admits he is a little perplexed as to why all the other teams are being outclassed by the top two during pre-season testing.
Coulthard told Autosport: "I think they have an advantage, yes. A big advantage.
"I don't know why they are doing such a good job and why the rest are not doing one. We all work hard.
"I think what it shows is that in F1 everyone has a wind tunnel and so on, but to make the car work on the track is so difficult.
"The car moves around on the circuit, and the driver does things like touch the kerbs, and that makes it hard."
Blistering pace
The Scot expressed his belief that the way both the McLaren and Ferrari chassis work with their tyres could have something to do with their blistering pace.
"For sure, some teams work more efficiently with these tyres in a certain window of temperature, and when it goes hot they struggle," he said.
"It is possible the McLaren and the Ferraris just are working the tyre more. So they get more heat out of the tyre, and out of that they get the laptime."
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