Apologetic Coulthard Suffers 'nightmare'.

David Coulthard admitted to suffering a 'personal nightmare' at the Austrian Grand Prix after colliding with team-mate Mika Hakkinen.


The two McLarens touched going into turn two on the opening lap, as the Scot attempted to pass Hakkinen on the inside. Coulthard's front and Hakkinen's rear wheels made contact spinning the Finn onto the grass, and leaving him to rejoin at the rear of the field.


Coulthard, meanwhile, continued to lead until the mid-race pit-stops, and seemed to be controlling the race until his pace dropped. Eddie Irvine, running third behind Rubens Barrichello, ran a longer first stint and was able to pass the lead McLaren during the pit-stops as Coulthard became ensnared in traffic.


"Today was my nightmare scenario," admitted Coulthard, "Not only did I take my team-mate off, but we came second to our opposition. I am very sorry for what happened with Mika - I completely misjudged the second corner and hit him. Then, I was unable to put in quick laps just after my stop as I was caught in traffic, and this meant that Irvine was able to get ahead of me."


Hakkinen put in a storming drive to finish third, and is understood to have accepted Coulthard's apologies, despite giving the Scot a frosty reception immediately after the race.