Coulthard refuses to dampen Ferrari speculation

SILVERSTONE, England, June 8 (Reuters) David Coulthard today fuelled speculation that he has been talking to Ferrari about the possibility of driving for them next season.

''It's inevitable that everyone has to know what the market place offers,'' the Scot told a British Grand Prix news conference when asked about media reports linking him to the former Formula One champions.

''From their side, they've got one driver scoring serious points and the other not. Any team needs to have two drivers in a position to capitalise and I didn't score over 500 points by accident.

''Everyone talks to everyone at this stage of the season.'' Coulthard's Red Bull team use Ferrari engines and the Scot, whose contract expires at the end of the year, handed them a high-profile first podium in Formula One with third place in Monaco two weeks ago.

He has said he wants to stay at Red Bull, who now have former McLaren technical director Adrian Newey masterminding their 2007 car.

FERRARI LINK However, the 35-year-old, the last Briton to win his home race in 2000, was linked to the Maranello team in 2004 as a possible test driver when McLaren dropped him and it looked as though he had nowhere to go until Red Bull stepped in.

Coulthard has 13 grand prix wins, more than any current driver other than Ferrari's seven times champion Michael Schumacher, and was runner-up in the 2001 season won by the German.

Schumacher, 37, has yet to announce whether he is staying on at Ferrari or retiring after his contract expires at the end of the current season.

The German has won two races this year and is second in the standings with 43 points, still a hefty 21 behind Renault's Fernando Alonso.

Schumacher's Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa, who has a one-year contract to race for Ferrari, is sixth in the standings with 20 points.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen has been strongly linked to Ferrari but champions Renault are also known to be keen on the Finn and have said they will pay what it takes to find a top replacement for Alonso, who joins McLaren in 2007.

REUTERS PM PM2325