Coulthard to stay, Mateschitz hints
To the 'Bietigheimer Zeitung' newspaper, energy drink mogul Dietrich Mateschitz dropped the strongest hint yet that the veteran Scot is certain to stick around for a third season in succession.
''I don't think we have to say much about Coulthard,'' the 62-year-old was quoted as saying.
''He is one of our strongest assets.''
Mateschitz, who also co-owns the junior 'Toro Rosso' outfit, added that Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed are also due to extend their Red Bull links, but the fate of Christian Klien is unclear.
''Speed and Liuzzi have fulfilled our expectations,'' he stated.
''They have charisma, talent, the courage and the will to become established in formula one.''
Referring to Klien, however, Mateschitz outlined that there is still time for the young Austrian to 'prove he has the potential' to become a winner.
He flatly denied recent reports that – with an alleged $3.78 billion in the bank – Mateschitz only scarcely loses out to Bernie Ecclestone as the paddock's richest face.
''Lists like those are purely fictitious,'' he claimed.