Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug has added weight to
McLaren's defence of
Heikki Kovalainen amid suggestions that the Finn is to under threat of being replaced by
Nico Rosberg next season.
The German was a potential target for the Woking team after it became clear that
Fernando Alonso would not remain on board for 2008, but opted to sign a lengthy deal with
Williams instead. However, it is understood that that contract contains a get-out clause should the Grove team not return to the top four of the constructors' championship, prompting speculation that McLaren may get its man after all.
The rumours were dismissed by McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh on the eve of the German Grand Prix, and Haug also sprang to Kovalainen's defence during the Friday press conference at Hockenheim after the Finn's position was again questioned in light of his disappointing British GP result.
"He was quick," Haug said of his charge, "You saw the fuel load in Silverstone when he did his first pole position. He has the speed. These are small details, but I think, in the rain, he was just struggling a little bit with the rear end of his car and, if you do not have the full confidence under these circumstances, then you are just history.
"But, if you can beat everybody with a comparable fuel load by quite a margin, as in
Silverstone, you need to be a very good racing driver and that's what I think Heikki is.
"[The misfortune] started with the safety car in Melbourne, then he had an accident in Barcelona which wasn't his fault. He also had a cut tyre in Turkey, [so] there were a lot of opportunities where he could have scored more points. But this is the name of the game.
"We inside the team know that he is a great driver, a great guy and an absolute team player, like Lewis, [and] I think that helps us a lot. The team is very balanced, very focused, very determined and this is very, very positive."
Moreover,
Paddock Talk has suggested that McLaren is close to renewing Kovalainen's contract for 2009 by taking up its option on him.
