Cool Coulthard takes the heat out of Schu.

BRITAIN'S David Coulthard gained revenge over Michael Schumacher and put his world championship bid back on track here yesterday.

The 27-year-old McLaren-Merecedes driver led the San Merino Grand Prix from start to finish and silenced his critics in the process.

Coulthard could even afford to slow down and nurse an overheating gearbox to cross the line five seconds ahead of Schumacher's Ferrari.

Schumacher had barged past Coulthard on his way to victory in Argentina a fortnight ago but there was no chance of a repeat in this race.

The Scot, who won the last race on Italian soil, at Monza in September, now stands second in the title standings, three points behind team-mate Mika Hakkinen - forced to retire in his 100th grand prix with gear box trouble on the 17th lap - and three points ahead of Schumacher.

Coulthard said: "This is a great kick start to the European season and great for my championship chances. I'm aware of all the criticism I have had and stories about my future and this is just what I needed.

"It is a boost for me and hopefully will stop the rumours that have been going around."

Coulthard's team ordered him to back off in the later stages but did not tell him he had a gearbox overheating problem.

They feared he, too, might have to retire, just as Hakkinen had to.

Coulthard said: "I was aware that Mika had retired but I didn't know why and the team didn't tell me.

"I was in control and knew I could go faster if I had to towards the end. But this was just what I needed.

"To be 13 points behind before the race was an uncomfortable gap. Mika still has the advantage but I feel more comfortable with the situation."

Of his win, typically, Coulthard insisted: "It wasn't really hard. Quite easy,really."

But his calm reaction hid a behind the scenes drama which had his boss, Ron Dennis, on tenterhooks.

Dennis marched in and out of the pits in the later stages of the race, checking the car's technical data.

With team-mate Hakkinen forced to drop out with a broken gearbox, team officials feared the same problem could scupper Coulthard.

They discovered the temperature of Coulthard's gearbox was rising and told him over the radio to control his pace.

But they did not let him know he had potential trouble on his hands so that he would be spared the anxiety for the rest of the race.

The strategy worked perfectly and, although Schumacher's Ferrari appeared in Coulthard's mirrors over the closing laps, the German was no real threat and he knew it.

The silver McLaren performed a celebratory wiggle on the last corner and arrowed towards Coulthard's pit crew.

Coulthard said: "Just towards the end and that final corner I said to my crew 'here I come'.

"I have a special relationship with the team and I wanted to thank them for their work not only today but for all the time we've worked together."

Coulthard's ability has been in question of late and rumours about his future had gathered pace in the build-up to this race.

It was said Mercedes would do all they could to bring in Schumacher and that Coulthard would have to make way. But the Scot's super-cool performance has banished the doubts about his ability.

Schumacher said: "I wouldn't have expected anything better than third place if Mika had not dropped out and it was obvious I could not catch David."

Ulsterman Eddie Irvine was third in the other Ferrari after fighting off the challenge of champion Jacques Villeneuve in a Williams.

Damon Hill was in trouble on the first lap in his Jordan after a clash with another car, and had to go into the pits immediately for repairs.

But he stormed back courageously before having to retire just five laps from the end.

Another Englishman, Johnny Herbert, had to pull up after just 12 laps with suspension and mechanical trouble.

GRAND PRIX DETAILS

IMOLA.- (62 laps): 1 D Coulthard (GB) McLaren, 1hr 34 mins 24.593 secs (avge speed 194.117 kph), 2 MSchumacher (Ger) Ferrari, 4.554 secs behind, 3 E Irvine (GB) Ferrari, 51.776, 4 J Villeneuve (Can) Williams, 54.590, 5 H-H Frentzen (Ger) Williams, 77.477, 6 J Alesi (Fr) Sauber, 1 lap behind, 7 R Schumacher (Ger) Jordan, 2 laps, 8 E Tuero (Arg) Minardi, 2 laps, 9 M Salo (Fin) Arrows, 2 laps, 10 D Hill (GB) Jordan, 5 laps, 11 O Panis (Fr) Prost, 6 laps. Fastest lap: M Schumacher 1:29.345 (avge speed 198.645kph).

World drivers' ch'ship: 1 M Hakkinen (Fin) 26 points, 2 Coulthard 23, 3 M Schumacher 20, 4 Irvine 10, 5 Frentzen 8, 6 A Wurz (Aut) 6.

Constructors' ch'ship: 1 McLaren 49, 2 Ferrari 30, 3 Williams 13, 4 Benetton 8, 5 Sauber 4.