Eric Boullier can hardly be accused of turning the youngster's head, as he salutes Kevin Magnussen's Melbourne performance.

Red Bull’s exclusion promoted McLaren rookie Magnussen and teammate Jenson Button to second and third respectively on Sunday, a sharp turn around following a season in which the Woking squad failed to make it to the podium for the first time since 1980.

Indeed the performance of debutant Magnussen was one of the stand-out stories over the Melbourne weekend, the 21-year-old driving a measured race in which he demonstrated composure beyond his years. It left many drawing parallels with Lewis Hamilton's debut for the Woking team in 2007.

"This weekend Kevin did a brilliant job, but benefited from a few abandons and the decision of the FIA stewards," said Boullier in the first McLaren phone-in press conference of the season.

"He had a strong drive in qualifying and the race but there is no expectation other than trying to build him up and helping him develop the potential he has so that he can win when we have a car that can.

"But he did a very good job," he added, a masterpiece of understatement.

McLaren currently leads the Constructors' Championship by eight points from Mercedes, courtesy of its double-podium result in Australia. Red Bull is pointless, as, it suggests, is the fuel flow sensor.

Mat Coch