Coulthard shuns new engine for tactical reasons

LONDON (Reuters) - Red Bull's David Coulthard will use his engine for a third successive race in Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix to try and give the Formula One team a tactical advantage later in the season.

Renault's Fabrice Lom, who oversees the engines used by Red Bull, said it was the first time the team had decided to make an engine last for three grands prix in a row rather than the mandatory two.

"His (Coulthard's) V8 has not done too much running and we are not especially worried about its reliability," he said in a Renault preview for the 11th round of the 18 race championship.

"Plus, having our two drivers out of synch on the engine cycle means that we won't be putting all our eggs in the same basket.

"This decision will also help us in the second half of the season in terms of the logistical challenge. And finally, it means that David will not have to use the same engine in Spa and Monza, which are two of the toughest challenges on the calendar."

Coulthard, who is retiring at the end of the season, finished 13th in the previous race in Germany after failing to complete a lap of the British Grand Prix.

The Belgian and Italian Grands Prix, two very quick races that pose a heavy burden on the engine, are on back-to-back weekends in September.

Australian Mark Webber, Red Bull's other driver, will have a new engine for the Hungaroring. Red Bull are fighting for fourth place in the constructors' standings with Toyota and Renault.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin; Editing by John O'Brien)