Coulthard lost out by just over 0.4secs to the Ferrari of fellow title pacesetter Michael Schumacher, while McLaren team-mate Mika Hakkinen snatched second spot late on.

But Coulthard, who has finished on the podium in every race this year, believes he can overcome triple champion Schumacher and Hakkinen, who has won the race for the past three seasons.

‘‘I can certainly win the race from third and that’s what I will be looking to do,’’ said Coulthard, who has been second to Hakkinen each time since 1998.

‘‘I think Ferrari have still got a slight advantage over us but we are closing the gap on them.

‘‘I didn’t get the maximum from the car in qualifying, but the time achieved by Michael was attainable. It is just a case of us working to get the car right for the race.’’

Coulthard is hoping that the start tomorrow will not be marred by any crashes caused by the launch control systems that have been introduced as part of the return of traction control.

The system, banned at the end of 1993, should ensure there is no repeat of the wheelspin which cost Coulthard the lead from pole in the last race in Italy, though drivers’ reaction times will still be crucial.

‘‘Every driver on the grid will be wondering what is going to happen when the red lights go out tomorrow,’’ added Coulthard, who has not led the championship outright since the opening race in 1997.

‘‘But motor racing is a risky business so we will just have to see tomorrow afternoon.

‘‘There are so many more things controlled by the central computer on the car now, but as long as that has got a big enough capacity we should be okay.’’

Schumacher rubbished any talk of a Ferrari slump after powering to his fourth pole in five attempts this year and the 36th of his career.

The 32-year-old never looked like losing out after setting the fastest time midway through the session, though Hakkinen got within 0.085secs on his final run.

‘‘I would not say we were in a slump,’’ said Schumacher, who won the opening two races but saw his championship lead whittled away after finishing second in Brazil and retiring in Imola.

‘‘We are back up where we wanted to be and hopefully this is looking good for the race. It is very tight and Mika got close to me at the end but not close enough.’’

Ralf Schumacher, who won the last race, finished fifth to maintain his perfect qualifying record over Formula One’s new golden boy Juan Pablo Montoya, who was 12th.

Eddie Irvine was 13th fastest with fellow Jaguar Racing team-mate Pedro de la Rosa a lowly 20th on his debut for the team in his home race.