Ferrari ace Schumacher has put past run-ins and criticism of his McLaren rival behind him to declare that Coulthard is a true title challenger.

Schumacher believes Coulthard, 32, could put the brakes on him clinching a seventh world crown this year.

The German said: “David gets a huge amount of flak and negative press in the UK but, within the confines of the F1 paddock, he’s well respected.

“He is always quick, totally professional, hard but fair and an excellent driver to race against.

"For one reason or another he didn’t have his best season last year but he’ll be one of my main rivals this season.”

The pair have rarely seen eye to eye ever since Schumacher accused the Scot of trying to kill him during the rain-lashed 1998 Belgian Grand Prix.

Schumacher ran into the back of Coulthard’s car as he attempted to lap him in the treacherous conditions and then claimed he had been deliberately brake-tested.

Mechanics had to restrain him as he tried to force his way into the McLaren garage to confront Coulthard.

Coulthard finally apologised for the incident last year when he revealed that, because of his inexperience at the time, he may have taken his foot off the gas at the wrong moment.

But he has never backed down from his comments slating Schumacher’s win-at-all-costs moves — especially the way he used to cut across the field at the start of a race to prevent rivals from overtaking him in the opening corner.