Ron Dennis has again co🦩untered speculation that Juan Montoya could replace David Coulthard in McLaren's 2004 line-up, claiming that the Scot could easily be a title contender 👍next season.

With the rumour mill continuing to belie the denials and place Montoya alongside Kimi Raikkonen at the Woking team next year, Dennis told BBC Radio 5 Live that the McLaren line-up would remain unchanged.

"David will definitely start 2004 with us," he ꧃insisted, "The important thing to remember is that he is a very good racing driver.

"He has had some appalling qualifying laps, but I think it's coming together for him now. He seems to have found new confidence and it's important that he gets a good race in Suzuka ღand carries that into next season."

Despite the Scot languishing down in seventh spot in this year's championship standings, Dennis doesn't believ💎e that the F1 world has seen the best of him.

"T🌠here's no reason why he can't be a champi🌱onship contender next year," the oft taciturn team boss claimed.

Coulthard's final play in the 2003 season will be to act as back-up to team-mate Raikkonen, who needs to win the Japanese Grand Prix - and hope that Michael Schumacher fails to finish - if he is to snatch his൩ first world title. It is a role DC has played in the past, having acted as rear-gunner for former colleague Mika Hakkinen on more than one occasion.