Kovalainen out to do better than fifth.

McLaren-Mercedes driver Heikki Kovalainen has said that he will push harder in Malaysia this weekend in a bid to build on the fifth place finish he notched up last Sunday.

Heikki looked odds on to take the runners-up spot in Oz until he got caught out in the final safety car period and lost considerable time.

Despite that disappointment though, he was extremely pleased with the pace of the MP4-23 and will be hoping to make more of it in Kuala Lumpur.

"My target is to build on the fifth position from Melbourne," he confirmed ahead of the second round in the 2008 FIA F1 World Championship. "We were really competitive all weekend, and I was making sure I kept relaxed and didn't put any additional pressure on myself.

"I now have my first race with the team under my belt, apart from the safety car it went really well and we are now going to push harder in Sepang.

"The car was really quick and we now have to work hard to take that performance to Malaysia."

Last year Heikki was in the points in Sepang and as such he has some 'good memories'. He concedes though that he isn't really use to such high ambient temperatures, which can reach up to 40 degrees centigrade leading to a cockpit environment of over 50 degrees.

"It is a very interesting track, very wide with some great corners. It is a cool place to go and I am looking forward to the race. The main process is getting your body used to the heat, and we were able to start that in Melbourne as the conditions were pretty warm, so it was another step up in the heat.

"When we are training we try to stay out in the heat and keep hydrated. We also focus on my diet, what I am eating and when. I am working very closely with my trainer and the team doctor to ensure I am fully prepared.

"I flew out to Kuala Lumpur on Monday, I visited the city last year, so I went straight to the hotel to focus on my training.

"It will be much the same as just outlined, staying out in the heat, which for me coming from Finland is very unusual. We have 40 degrees but it is always minus not plus!"