Former world champion Damon Hill believes that the 2002 Formula One season will be a straight race between defending champion Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard.

Hill, who won the title back in 1996, believes that both drivers hold an equal chance when the season begins on 3 March.

"Obviously everyone has Michael down as favourite but it's going to be 50/50 between him and David," said the Briton.

"But, having said that, there's never really any point in talking about potential winners until three or four races into the season.

"That's when the championship begins to take shape for the first time."

Hill knows better than most about the abilities of both Schumacher and Coulthard.

He battled with Schumacher for the world title in 1994 and then with Coulthard in 1996 while he was team-mates with the Scot at Williams.

Another driver tipped as a future world champion, Jenson Button, has been enduring battles of his own further down the grid in recent races.

Hill retired from F1 before Button made his debut for the Williams team in 2000.

And, since then, the young Briton has had mixed fortunes, excelling at Williams before having a dire season in 2001 at Benetton.

Hill has had plenty of experience further back on the grid having spent a season with Arrows and believes Button will move up the grid once again.