Stewart tips Coulthard for top

Coulthard can step up his title challenge in Monaco

Jackie Stewart is backing fellow Scot David Coulthard's chances of winning the World Championship this season.

The three-time former champion believes Coulthard now has the maturity and self-centred focus to see off Ferrari's reigning champion Michael Schumacher.

But he reckons the McLaren-Mercedes team have to order Mika Hakkinen to support Coulthard to give him the best chance of thwarting Schumacher.

While Schumacher can count on the support of Rubens Barrichello, McLaren insist they have no plans to impose team orders on Coulthard's behalf yet.

Stewart: Knows what it takes to win

Stewart believes that could cost them dear.

"McLaren cannot afford to give anything to Schumacher. He is the man to beat.

"If Ferrari are focusing on him then McLaren have to do the same with David if they want to beat Schumacher in the race for the championship.

"McLaren have to give David priority now. I believe David can win it," said Stewart, who took the last of his titles in 1973.

"Mika has had a bad turn of fortune and David has driven extremely well - he just has to keep his focus.

"He will make mistakes but he has to keep them to a minimum though you cannot drive flawlessly throughout the season.

David has always had natural talent - a fact we recognised when we signed him from Formula Ford

  Jackie Stewart

It is time for Coulthard to take the next big step in his career, according to Stewart.

"He has the best chance now to challenge as he has escaped from the shadow of Hakkinen.

"David has always had natural talent - a fact we recognised when we signed him from Formula Ford for Paul Stewart Racing in Formula Three.

"David was always capable of doing the job, winning races and earning poles. But there appeared to be a drop in concentration - that has now been eliminated."

Stewart believes Coulthard has emerged a stronger person after miraculously walking away from his burning jet which crashed in France last year killing both pilots.

And the 30-year-old is now solely focused on the title having ended his relationship with fiance Heidi Wichlinski.

The championship will be decided as much in the mind as on the track

  Jackie Stewart

"David has acquired the focus of life," he added.

"He was affected by the air crash and really had a big decision to make when he chose not to be married.

"He wanted to make himself totally committed to winning. You cannot afford to have any distraction when you are in that situation.

"It takes time to get into the zone and not be affected by what others say or do but the most difficult thing in this sport is controlling your head - your emotions. It separates the men from the boys.

"Champions manage their minds better than the rest. They all have talent but it takes something extra mentally to win.

"The championship will be decided as much in the mind as on the track."