Coulthard talks the talk as Schuey walks the walk

DAVID Coulthard is ready to wrest the mantle of the toughest driver on the grand prix circuit away from arch rival Michael Schumacher when the red lights go off to signal the start of the Hungary Grand Prix this afternoon.

The 29-year-old Scot, who knows victory today will catapult him into the lead of the world championship for the first time in his career, lines up alongside the Ferrari ace on the front row of the grid, and the Scot is in no mood to accept second best as the two drivers race for the first corner.

"I know exactly what Michael will do," admitted Coulthard who finished the hour-long session just three-tenths of a second behind the double world champ whose last two races have lasted exactly 700 yards after first-corner collisions with Ricardo Zonta and Giancarlo Fisichella, "and so does the rest of the world.

"Within yards he'll have snaked across to block me off. But you know what? I'm ready to go wheel-to-wheel with him into the first corner and if it comes down to a battle of wills, there's only going to be one winner. And it's not going to be Michael."

Coulthard, who has been a stern critic of the Ferrari driver's aggressive manoeuvres at the start of recent races in which he has purposely darted across the track in an effort to hamper the progress of his opponents, is adamant Schumacher is struggling to handle the increasing pressure as he strives to bring the drivers' title to the Maranello outfit for the first time in 21 years.

"Michael knows he's under pressure after failing to score in four of the last five races. He's seen what looked like an impregnable 22- point lead slashed to just two ahead of me and Mika (Hakkinen). What also concerns him is he also knows that when it comes to race set- up, my McLaren will be a better car than his. Pole is important, but what's more important is who crosses the finishing line first tomorrow and I've no doubt it will be me."

The Twynholm-racer, who sets a world landmark record of 77 grands prix in tandem with his McLaren-Mercedes team-mate Hakkinen, fared better than the Finn who endured a miserable time in the sweltering heat which baked the massive crowd at the 2.465-mile Hungaroring 15 miles from Budapest.

Hakkinen, who will be boosted by the attendance of almost 30,000 fellow countrymen who have flown to Hungary to support their hero who has won here for the last two years, struggled all day and never looked like getting anywhere near his two main rivals. Only a major change to the set-up of the car after an animated discussion with McLaren designer Adrian Newey allowed him to qualify third ahead of Ralf Schumacher and the second Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello.

The Brazilian, winner last time out in Germany and who admits the Hungaroring doesn't suit his style of driving, starts on the third row of the grid alongside the Jordan of sixth-placed Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

There was delight for 20-year-old Jenson Button who qualified his Williams in eighth place on his first visit to Hungary, but the woes continued for Jaguar duo Eddie Irvine and Johnny Herbert. While the Englishman, who has already confirmed he will be driving in the USA next year, lines up a disappointing 17th, one place behind the leading British American Racing car of Jacques Villeneuve, Irvine starts 10th.

But while the rest, Coulthard and Schuey jnr aside, struggled, Michael Schumacher, watched by Ferrari president Luca Montezemolo, was back to his imperious best. The German set the pace right from his first run, posting a 1min 17.514sec lap which nobody seriously threatened as he grabbed his fifth pole of the year. Such was the German's confidence that he didn't nudge his Ferrari out of the garage until 28 minutes of the session had elapsed. But seconds after climbing from his Ferrari at the end of his final run, Schumacher fired off a warning to Coulthard.

"This is when I get my title charge back in gear and I don't care who gets in my way. It's time I started winning again," he blasted.

"Everyone knows we've had a lean time over the last few races, but believe me, we're determined to get our act back together and step- up our championship push.

"The race to the first corner will be tight, but we all know I'm allowed to make one move and as long as the sport's governing body allows me to do that, then I will do it. If David's unhappy, that's just tough."

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