Jul.10 (GMM) Two years after the sport's last visit to Hockenheim, David Coulthard this week marvelled at formula one's rate of progress.



The veteran Scot, who drives for Red Bull, was amazed when he discovered that he could drive into the German venue's famous 'Motodrom' section without lifting the throttle.



"In other years you were using, at the most, fifth gear," Coulthard told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport magazine as he tests at the German grand prix circuit this week.



The retiring 37-year-old's observations, however, are unlikely to be echoed in coming seasons, given the drastic downforce reduction - up to 30 per cent - in next year's technical regulations.