Coulthard ready to start again in Sepang.

One of the benefits of being a Formula One veteran is knowing never to take anything for granted - something that David Coulthard has learned well over his eleven years in the top flight.

After a strong showing at the first round of the season in Melbourne, casual observers will be expecting the Scot to turn it on again this weekend, but Coulthard has urged caution when it comes to predicting more points for the 'rookie' Red Bull team.

"They say you're only as good as your last race so, although the Melbourne result was a great morale booster, we now have to start all over again in a race that will be a much tougher proposition," he said of this Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix, "I've finished second and third at Sepang in the past and, while that will be hard to match, I will be trying my best to bring home some more points."

Red Bull Racing enjoyed a dream debut under the guidance of new team boss Christian Horner, with both Coulthard and team-mate Christian Klien finishing in the top eight - the first time the team had managed to do that either as Red Bull or predecessor Jaguar.

"Melbourne was a fantastic debut," Horner agrees, "While our result in first qualifying was fortuitous due to the weather, it's fair to say that our performance throughout the free practice sessions was very strong and that was backed up by David and Christian's pace in the race. Both drivers' confidence is now high and we will be looking to
build on that this weekend."

Coulthard also knows that he was perhaps a little fortunate to start fifth on the grid in Australia after the FIA's new aggregate qualifying system was turned into something of a washout by Saturday's weather. And, whilst the grid slot enabled him to secure fourth place in a race where there was relatively little attrition, the Scot is not looking forward to the process this weekend.

"The fans are being cheated," he insisted to Britain's News of the World at the weekend, "They are not seeing the quickest driver in the quickest car come out on top. This sport should be all about technology and then the drivers trying to go as quickly as possible. It should be one hour, with everyone having to do one lap every 15 minutes.

"We shouldn't make it a handicap sport - it's like getting Chelsea to drop a couple of men because they are winning too much - it's not fair. I want to test myself against the best, but that doesn't always happen under the current rules. It's become a lottery. It's crap!"