BRITON David Coulthard has signed a new deal keeping him as Red Bull's lead driver next season, the Formula One team said.
The contract extension means the 34-year-old Scot, who joined the British-based team this year on a one-year deal after nine seasons with McLaren, will get to drive a Ferrari-powered car in 2006.
Red Bull, the former Jaguar team now owned by Austrian energy drink billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, have already announced they are switching from Cosworth to Ferrari engines.
``David has clearly demonstrated that he's still one of the top drivers in F-1,'' said team boss Christian Horner. ``He's played a vital part in Red Bull Racing's on-track credibility so far this season.
``It was therefore a very easy and natural decision to extend our agreement for 2006 and retain him as our lead driver.''
News of the deal came on the day Coulthard incurred the anger of FIA chief Max Mosley over comments in the press about Formula One rules.
The Scot finished a surprise fourth in Red Bull's Formula One debut in Australia in March, and at the European Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring in May, and has scored points in six races.
He also became the highest British points scorer in Formula One history when he finished sixth at the Malaysian Grand Prix in March.
``It's been a very positive new experience working with Red Bull,'' said Coulthard.
``The potential of the team is obvious and it made perfect sense to continue our partnership. Since I started with the team last December the progress made has been remarkable.''
Coulthard's confirmation raises a question mark over the future of Austrian Christian Klien and Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi.
The two youngsters have been sharing the second race car this season, with Klien currently in the driving seat and Liuzzi performing a Friday testing role.
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