McLaren boss Ron Dennis has obviously never heard that it is foolish to tempt fate. On Thursday afternoon, as the teams were advised by the FIA to abandon their launch control systems if they had the slightest doubt over their efficacy, Dennis scoffed and insisted that his teams' systems would work perfectly.

"I can't speak for the other teams, but we certainly intend to use it (launch control)," he said. "We've performed well over 1,000 starts and it's not a system issue."

Tell that to David Coulthard. For the second time in three races the Scot lined up for the formation, stamped on the accelerator of his McLaren MP4-16 and found himself going nowhere fast.

Re-started by his team Coulthard was forced to begin the race from the back of the grid, a far cry from the pole position he had stolen from Michael Schumacher with a brilliant last ditch lap in qualifying on Saturday. But, just as in Barcelona, Coulthard got his head down and began a gritty fight-back, incredibly with the same result. In Spain, the McLaren driver had chased down Jenson Button to claim fifth and two crucial points and yesterday he squeezed everything out of his McLaren to chase down a slowing Jean Alesi and claim two more points as the Frenchman was forced to pit within sight of home with a puncture.

"It's something we have tested and it shouldn't have happened," he said. "Obviously, I was frustrated when it occurred but as a racing driver you have to overcome that and concentrate on getting the car started and getting on with the race."

That Coulthard did, but as he attempted to forge through the pack he found himself tussling with Arrows' Enrique Bernoldi for 15th spot. The Brazilian defended his position expertly for 35 laps before pitting for fuel and tyres, despite once being erroneously shown blue flags as the pair raced through the tunnel.

After the race, however, as Bernoldi parked his car, the Brazilian claimed that he had been approached by Ron Dennis and Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug and warned by Dennis that "he had it in his power to end his Formula One career".

"Ron and Norbert came up to me after the race in the pitlane," said the Arrows driver. "They were both very aggressive. They told me if you continue to drive in that sort of way again, you are not going to be in F1 for very long. I was very scared, they were very aggressive."

Dennis later insisted that neither he nor Haug had issued any warning saying that he had merely suggested to the Brazilian that he should have moved aside and let Coulthard by. "That's rubbish. I said nothing of the sort," said Dennis. "I have no influence over his career at all. It was quite a while after the race when I talked to him and I was cool, calm and collected and I was not angry. I just told him that in my opinion it was unsporting behaviour."

Bernoldi, though visibly slower than Coulthard was, nevertheless, racing for position and under no obligation to let the Scot past.

"I don't think I was unfair to him. I am on the track to race and to improve myself so one day I will be in his position," protested Bernoldi.

"Ron has spoken to me. He said that from 15th position I should have let him past. I don't agree with that. I don't think that is fair. I was clean, driving my race."

Coulthard's race had, however, already been wrecked by his failed start and up ahead, Michael Schumacher was reaping the reward, cruising to a fourth win of the season and his fifth at Monaco. The German has now equalled Graham Hill's tally of wins and is just one shy of matching Ayrton Senna's all-time record of wins in the Principality.

Starting from second on the grid, Schumacher assumed the pole when Coulthard stalled at the start of the formation lap and led from lights to flag to extend his lead over the Scot to 12 points. Afterwards he admitted that it has been a straightforward but nonetheless rewarding win.

"I don't feel that emotional because I think it was a very straightforward win," said the German. "I don't think it was anything exceptional. There wasn't anything happening through the race that would make me emotional. It's always nice to win in Monte Carlo, it's always special but it was pretty straightforward really.".

The win moves Schumacher into an ever-more commanding lead in the championship, while the six points added by second-placed Rubens Barrichello also give Ferrari a massive 32 point advantage over McLaren in the constructors's championship. With Irvine completing the podium, the remaining points places were snapped up by BAR's Jacques Villeneuve, who chased to within three seconds of Irvine as the pair raced toward the chequered flag.