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McLaren to retain Kovalainen in 2009

NEWS STORY
31/07/2008

Speaking to reporters at the Hungaroring this morning, McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh has confirmed that Heikki Kovalainen will continue to race for the Woking team in 2009.

"We welcomed Heikki on board at the start of the year," said Whitmarsh. "He is under contract to McLaren Mercedes and will race for us in the 2009 season."

While the Finn has had his moments, most notably pole position at Silverstone and third-place in Malaysia, due to a number of factors, most of them simply bad luck or strategy, he hasn't performed at the same level as his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, who entered F1 at exactly the same time as the Finn.

This has led to all manner of speculation including claims that the Woking team was eager to secure the services of Nico Rosberg, a move strenuously denied by McLaren.

Only last week, Jackie Stewart advised the team to push Kovalainen harder and at the same time enforce team orders in order that he might support Hamilton's bid for the title, a call dismissed by team boss Ron Dennis.

He is a brilliant young racing driver," said Martin Whitmarsh. "But there's no magic in Formula One and we still need to work with Heikki to extract his full potential."

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