27/07/2008
NEWS STORY
Following comments made by three-time World Champion Jackie Stewart, McLaren boss Ron Dennis has said that his team will not call on Heikki Kovalainen to accept a number-two role to Lewis Hamilton and support the Englishman's bid for the title.
Taking time out from calling for Max Mosley to stand down, Stewart turned his attention to another Englishman, Lewis Hamilton, asking McLaren to ensure that Kovalainen ups his game and supports the youngster's title challenge.
"The way the season is panning out it is going to be nip and tuck for the Drivers' Championship right to the end of the season," Stewart told the Daily Mirror. "Lewis has to be well supported by his team-mate.
"Kovalainen has got to be able take a position away from a Ferrari driver," he continued. "You can't have a one-driver team in this sport. "Lewis and Kovalainen have got to keep finishing. In Lewis' case it's a simple fact that no-one wins all of the time. But it's no good winning well and then not finishing the next race."
Reacting to Stewart's advice, Dennis said: "The fact is that Sir Jackie retired from motor racing in 1973, which is 35 years ago, and the sport has moved on in that time."
Clearly choosing to ignore Stewart's time as an F1 team boss, Dennis continued: "Jackie's suggestion that Lewis's World Championship campaign depends on Heikki's assistance presupposes that his task is to drive in support of Lewis - and that simply isn't the case.
"The truth is that Lewis doesn't want any help," added Dennis, according to Reuter. "He and Heikki are good mates, but they're both highly competitive individuals and they take their own decisions."