Silverstone glory for Coulthard

Grey day: Coulthard and Hakkinen finished one-two

Home favourite David Coulthard claimed his second successive British Grand Prix victory with a faultless display at Silverstone.

Rising star Jenson Button made it a day of double celebration for the weather-beaten British spectators when he secured fifth place - his best finish in only his fourth race.

Leading positions

1: David Coulthard

2: Mikka Hakkinen

3: Michael Schumacher

4: Ralf Schumacher

5: Jenson Button

6: Jarno Trulli

Scottish driver Coulthard led home McLaren team-mate Mika Hakkinen by 1.4 seconds, while world championship front-runner Michael Schumacher had to settle for third spot.

Ralf Schumacher was just ahead of his Williams team-mate Button in fourth and Jordan's Jarno Trulli capitalised on Jacques Villeneuve's late retirement to complete the top six.

Thankfully for drivers and spectators alike, who have been plagued by rain for days, the race was run in perfect conditions after the sun came out on Sunday morning and dried off the track.

Young gun: Jenson Button claimed two points

Coulthard became the first Briton to complete back-to-back victories on home soil since Nigel Mansell in 1992 as he re-ignited his championship bid with a seventh career win.

He now moves into second place in the standings - 20 points adrift of Schumacher.

The 29-year-old produced the overtaking manoeuvre of the day - and arguably one of the best of the season - when he swept past early leader Rubens Barrichello.

Brazilian Barrichello, whose Ferrari began in pole position, was out in front after 27 of the 60 laps.

The best bit for me was getting past Michael Schumacher at the first corner.

Jenson Button

But Coulthard timed his move to perfection and cruised past him at Stowe corner to assume control of the contest.

Barrichello, clearly rattled, saw his race come to an abupt end when he spun off the circuit and through the puddles soon after.

The lead then chopped and changed after a series of pit stops by the top drivers - but Coulthard's one-stop strategy paid off in fine style.

Coulthard is now chasing a Silverstone hat-trick

British hopeful Button made an excellent start, charging off the third row of the grid in aggressive style.

The 20-year-old Williams driver nipped in front of the Ferrari of his hero Michael Schumacher to move up to fifth spot.

"The best bit for me was getting past Michael at the first corner," a beaming Button said afterwards.

"I wasn't sure about the start. It's only the fourth one I've had and I'd been practicing and practicing. Now I can't wait for the next one."

Two other British drivers, Jaguar team-mates Johnny Herbert and Eddie Irvine, both managed to complete the race, in 12th and 13th place respectively.

Barrichello's race came to a premature end

Schumacher suffered an uncharacteristic terrible start and was also overtaken by brother Ralf and Villeneuve as he dropped back to eighth.

After an eventful start the race turned into something of a procession, with the top six cars all bunched together and few prospects of overtaking.

But while it may have provided little of the thrills and spills associated with wet-weather races, the organisers will have been delighted that the rain did not make another crucial intervention.

And there will be relief too that at the end of a frustrating few days the long-suffering spectators were treated to a large slice of home-grown success.

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British Grand Prix results:

1. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren, 1 hour 28 minutes and 50.108 seconds

2. Mika Hakkinen (Finland) McLaren 1.477 seconds behind

3. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 19.917

4. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 41.312

5. Jenson Button (Britain) Williams 57.759

6. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Jordan 1:19.273

7. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Benetton 1 lap

8. Mika Salo (Finland) Sauber 1 lap

9. Alexander Wurz (Austria) Benetton 1 lap

10. Jean Alesi (France) Prost 1 lap

11. Pedro Diniz (Brazil) Sauber 1 lap

12. Johnny Herbert (Britain) Jaguar 1 lap

13. Eddie Irvine (Britain) Jaguar 1 lap

14. Marc Gene (Spain) Minardi 1 lap

15. Gaston Mazzacane (Argentina) Minardi 1 lap

16. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 4 laps

17. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Jordan 6 laps

Retired:

18. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Prost 51 laps

19. Ricardo Zonta (Brazil) BAR 36 laps

20. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 35 laps

21. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) Arrows 26 laps

22. Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) Arrows 20 laps

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Drivers' championship standings:

1. Michael Schumacher 34 points

2. Coulthard 14

3. Hakkinen 12

4. Barrichello 9, Ralf Schumacher 9

6. Fisichella 8

7. Villeneuve 5

8. Frentzen 4, Trulli 4

10. Button 3

11 Zonta 1, Salo 1

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Constructors' championship standings:

1. Ferrari 43 points

2. McLaren 26

3. Williams 12

4 Benetton 8, Jordan 8

6. BAR 6

7. Sauber 1