Coulthard closer to Red Bull drive
 |  Coulthard has been looking for a drive since his release by McLaren |
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LONDON, England -- McLaren discard David Coulthard looks set to be offered a way back into Formula One for the 2005 season as a driver with the new Red Bull Racing team.
Managing director David Pitchforth said Coulthard impressed in testing last week and, if the decision was his alone, he would sign the Scot up.
"Having an experienced driver is a no-brainer," he confirmed.
"He's got all the experience and ability that we need to move the team forward, so if I was asked if I would sign him then I would say yes.
"Nothing is signed yet, but we're working on things and I hope we can come to an agreement. But I would still say things are 50-50 -- they could still go either way."
Red Bull, the Austrian drinks maker who took over Jaguar in November, also confirmed they were in talks with several other experienced drivers about a 2005 race seat.
Red Bull Racing owner Dietrich Mateschitz told Autosport magazine last month that Coulthard was one of the drivers at the top of his list.
Coulthard lost his seat at McLaren to Juan Pablo Montoya at the end of the 2004 season. The 33-year-old has 11 years of F1 racing under his belt having started his career at Williams where he replaced Ayrton Senna after the Brazilian's death.