Lewis Hamilton’s boss has hit back at Sir Jackie Stewart’s claims that Britain’s star driver cannot win the world title on his own.
McLaren chief Ron Dennis reacted to exclusive comments by the legendary racer. Stewart, who won three titles, said Hamilton’s team-mate, Heikki Kovalainen, needed to start living up to his potential and taking points off Ferrari title rivals Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa or the Briton’s championship ambitions will suffer.
Sir Jackie Stewart believes that Heikki Kovalainen’s form could be crucial in helping Lewis Hamilton as he bids to win the 2008 F1 drivers’ title.
Stewart reckons that Kovalainen needs to do more to take points off the likes of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen - and that if he doesn’t improve it could end up costing Hamilton and McLaren-Mercedes.
The three-time world champion added that Ron Dennis’ men need both of its drivers battling at the top if they are to succeed.
“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. Lewis has to be well supported by his team-mate,” Stewart explained.
However, Dennis has responded by repeating the team’s oft-stated policy of equality and insisting that Hamilton does not need any extra help from Kovalainen.
“I have enormous respect for Sir Jackie, he was one of grand prix racing’s truly great World Champions. Equally, we’re always willing to accept constructive criticism and the affection felt in Britain for Lewis means lots of people are anxious to give well-intentioned advice,” Dennis said.
“But 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. His 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.
“The truth is that Lewis doesn’t need any extra help. He and Heikki are good mates but they’re both highly competitive individuals and they take their own decisions.
“We have a long history of giving our drivers equal treatment and opportunity, and that isn’t about to change.”
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