Red Bull could be surprise team, says Williams

David Coulthard and the Red Bull Racing Formula One team could turn out to be the season's surprise package, according to Frank Williams.

The season starts in Australia next week and Williams, who gave the 33-year-old Scot his grand prix debut in 1994, suggested the former Jaguar team could be more competitive than many suspected.

"The Red Bull car looks very good I'm told," he said. "The car is quick, they're not to be laughed at. I just think they're going to surprise.

"It's a very good car. Mateschitz and Marko are tough people and are clearly going to go for it," he said.

Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz runs the Red Bull energy drink empire with former racer Helmut Marko as his director of motorsport.

They bought Jaguar from Ford last November and signed Coulthard, who was looking for a drive after being dropped by McLaren.

Coulthard has 13 grand prix wins under his belt, more than any other active driver other than Ferrari's seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher, and a career spent in winning cars at Williams and McLaren.

"David's not in the same league as Michael, he never was, but he can do them the world of good. He's the right man in the right place," said Williams.

Britain's Autosport magazine reported last week that Coulthard could expect a significant boost with engine suppliers Cosworth about to unleash their most powerful modern-day engine.

It quoted sources close to Cosworth as saying that designers expected Red Bull to start the season with around 910bhp, as good or better than some major manufacturers, despite rule changes to make engines last for two full weekends.