The 27-year-old Scot's win lifted him back into second place in the championship - three points behind McLaren team-mate Mika Hakkinen.

Coulthard: led from first lap

The Finn retired in the 17th lap with mechanical trouble, leaving Coulthard clear to win by 4.5 seconds in the McLaren.

At one point his lead stretched to 20 seconds until Ferrari's Michael Schumacher cut it back.

Hill retired

Coulthard's fourth win of his career came as some relief to the driver after his disappointment in Argentina two weeks ago when he was in collision with Schumacher.

BBC Radio Five Live's Jonathan Legard interviews David Coulthard and assesses his victory (3'04'')

He has also had to sit back and watch his Finnish team-mate take the lead after an earlier agreement between the drivers.

Eddie Irvine finished third in the other Ferrari while defending world champion Jacques Villeneuve finished fourth for Williams.

Villeneuve's team-mate Heinz-Harald Frentzen was fifth while Jean Alesi took sixth spot for Sauber.

Former champion Damon Hill retired just three laps from the finish while Johnny Herbert also left the race when his Sauber developed mechanical problems.

'Perfectly comfortable'

Referring to Schumacher, Coulthard said: "I was not worried about Michael.

"I had a lead of over 20 seconds after the pit stop and I just made sure I was not hard on the brakes or tyres.

"I felt perfectly comfortable to let the gap reduce because I knew I could go faster if I had to."

Schumacher added: "It was obvious David was just cruising and driving the car home.

"I was pushing because I never give up until the chequered flag comes down but I didn't really think I had a chance."

San Marino Grand Prix, Imola

• David Coulthard (Gbr) McLaren-Mercedes: 1hrs 34min 24.593secs (average: 194.117kmh)
  
• Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari: 4.554secs behind
  
• Eddie Irvine (Gbr) Ferrari: 51.776
  
• Jacques Villeneuve (Can) Williams-Mecachrome: 54.559
  
• Jean Alesi (Fra) Sauber-Petronas: 1:17.477
  
• Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Ger) Williams-Mecachrome: one lap
  
• Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Jordan-Mugen Honda: two laps
  
• Esteban Tuero (Arg) Minardi-Ford: two laps
  
• Mika Salo (Fin) Arrows: two laps

Drivers' standings

• Hakkinen (Fin) 26pts
• Coulthard (Gbr) 23
• Schumacher (Ger) 20
• Irvine (Irl) 11
• Frentzen (Ger) 8
• Wurz (Aut) 6
• Villeneuve (Can) 5
• Alesi (Fra) 3
• Herbert (Gbr) 1
• Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) 1

Constructors' championship

• McLaren-Mercedes 49pts
• Ferrari 31
• Williams-Mecachrome 12
• Benetton-Mecachrome 7
• Sauber-Petronas 4