Hamilton does not need Kovalainen help, says Dennis

LONDON (Reuters) - McLaren boss Ron Dennis has rebuffed former champion Jackie Stewart for suggesting that Heikki Kovalainen must do more to help team mate Lewis Hamilton win the Formula One title.

"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," Dennis said on Sunday in a response to comments made by Stewart after last weekend's German Grand Prix.

"Jackie's suggestion that Lewis's world championship campaign depends on Heikki's assistance presupposes that Heikki's task is to drive in support of Lewis - and that simply isn't the case," said Dennis.

Hamilton, 23, won in Germany to regain the lead in the championship. The Briton has four race wins this year while Finland's Kovalainen has just one podium finish.

Kovalainen finished fifth in Germany after obligingly allowing his team mate to go past when McLaren's strategy left the Briton needing to overtake three cars in the final 16 laps after his final pitstop.

So-called "team orders", where one driver is told to help his team mate, are banned in Formula One and Kovalainen has made clear he acted of his own initiative with Hamilton clearly quicker that day.

Stewart was quoted in Saturday's Daily Mirror as saying Hamilton "has to be well-supported by his team mate" to take the title. "You can't have a one driver team in this sport", he added.

Dennis, who emphasised his respect for Stewart, said McLaren had a long history of giving their drivers equal treatment and the Mercedes-powered team was not about to change that.

"The truth is that Lewis doesn't want any help," he said. "He and Heikki are good mates, but they're both highly competitive individuals and they take their own decisions."