APRIL 7, 2001
Mercedes director praises McLaren drivers
NORBERT HAUG, motorsport director at Mercedes, has backed David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen in their quest for world championship success.
Haug said that the McLaren pair are both in the hunt for the title and he added that Michael Schumacher has far from wrapped up proceedings this year.
"David is showing some steady driving at world class level at the moment," said Haug. "I've always said he can compete for the world championship title."
Coulthard has picked up 20 points from the first three races and is in second place in the drivers standings behind Michael Schumacher after his win in Brazil.
Hakkinen's results have been nothing short of disastrous but Haug believes that he can still recover from a poor start that in which he has earned just two points.
"Mika can still become world champion," added Haug. "We have become world champions twice with our strategy of sending two equal drivers into the race."