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[darwin dali]

F1live:
In what might be interpreted as a parting shot, Heikki Kovalainen has suggested that he did not enjoy equal treatment as Lewis Hamilton's McLaren team-mate in 2008 and 2009, something also alleged by Fernando Alonso during his time with the Woking-based team.

The Finn is now linked with a move to Toyota or Renault, while McLaren weighs up the various pros and cons of pairing Hamilton next year with Kimi Raikkonen or Jenson Button. McLaren insists it operates without a driver hierarchy, but Kovalainen painted a different picture in conversation with the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.

"It was always difficult to accept that Lewis was always the first to receive the new parts,” he said. "I have never wanted to make a big deal about it, but it would have been nice to just once had the new parts on my car, particularly after we lost the chance of winning the championship.
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"I could have complained publicly but instead wanted to show the team that I always give maximum effort with the car that I have, and I think they realise that."

Kovalainen also alleges that he has not enjoyed equal status in terms of race strategies.

"Every time this season - when Hamilton and I are in the third part of qualifying - I had to do it with more fuel. If you take into account the quantities of fuel, I would have had pole position several times," he insists.

Kovalainen admits his performances at times this season could have been better, but does not rule out staying at McLaren in 2010.

"I am 100% sure that McLaren has not yet made a decision. We'll see what they do.”



Here we go again: happy bitching to y'all

[myownalias]

I think it's probably partially true; if new parts aren't available in such quantity to put on both cars; it makes sense to have it on Lewis Hamilton's car as he is definitely the better driver out of the McLaren pair. As for race strategy; what ever happened to each driver having his own team of people to determine strategy independently? Either way I believe that any hopes that he may be staying at McLaren has evaporated after those statements!

[Denthúl]

Hmm. The fuel thing was mentioned last year, too...

[Susaluda]

I definitely believe that McLaren treats their drivers differently, but Lewis is the better driver...
Heikki really hasn't proven himself at McLaren.

[Frosty]

I will agree that he has not received completely equal treatment this season in terms or new components but on at least two occasions he got new parts before Lewis. The fuel thing is BS they give him the best strategy for him it's not like it's hard to fuel the cars to almost the same levels such as Brawn often do the fact is HK is given the best strategy for him and the team look at Monza he had the best strategy and the best fuel load on the grid an he stuffed it!

[bud]

No different to Piquets claims about Alonso and Renault but I didn't see DD start a thread about that guess it doesn't give off the same enjoyment to ya huh!

[darwin dali]

No different to Piquets claims about Alonso and Renault but I didn't see DD start a thread about that guess it doesn't give off the same enjoyment to ya huh!

Ah, we're comparing HK with NP now, eh?

[bud]

No different to Piquets claims about Alonso and Renault but I didn't see DD start a thread about that guess it doesn't give off the same enjoyment to ya huh!

Ah, we're comparing HK with NP now, eh?

No just the unfair treatment part ie Alonso getting the new parts first and better fuel loads

[darwin dali]

No different to Piquets claims about Alonso and Renault but I didn't see DD start a thread about that guess it doesn't give off the same enjoyment to ya huh!

Ah, we're comparing HK with NP now, eh?

No just the unfair treatment part ie Alonso getting the new parts first and better fuel loads

Well, have you considered that the source might have an influence on whether or not I start a thread? You can't compare a statement from HK with NP's utterances, can you?

[bud]

Yeah but we all knew that at both McLaren and Renault that parts were being flown into GPs being only enough for one car and obvious choices in both cases who's car to fit them on! It was not a hidden subject infact both teams not hiding these facts, As they were published in team race notes.

Just seems you like to stirr the pot

[darwin dali]

Yeah but we all knew that at both McLaren and Renault that parts were being flown into GPs being only enough for one car and obvious choices in both cases who's car to fit them on! It was not a hidden subject infact both teams not hiding these facts, As they were published in team race notes.

Just seems you like to stirr the pot

How so? I only posted what was officially reported

[RA Dunk]

Seems to be common sense TBH, The stronger driver in the team gets the newest parts as he has the highest chance of getting a result from them or getting the best from them? Regarding fuel strategies and poles for Kovalinen even if he manages to get pole he dosent do nothing when he`s there i suppose thats the teams fault as well lol

[MAD MAX]

but does not rule out staying at McLaren in 2010.

Not a cat in hells chance, not when he's just washed his skid-marked undies in public like that

[cap-dude]

No different to Piquets claims about Alonso and Renault but I didn't see DD start a thread about that guess it doesn't give off the same enjoyment to ya huh!

Ah, we're comparing HK with NP now, eh?

No just the unfair treatment part ie Alonso getting the new parts first and better fuel loads

Well, new parts come to Renault. You'd have to be stupid to give them to Piquet considering the likelyhood he would just crash and brake said parts. Also, I don't think Alonso and Piquet were ever in Q3 together


You have to give credit to Kovalinen to a certain extent. At least he wasn't constantly publicly complaining. He did just get on with the job. But I raised the issue of fuel loads last year. McLaren only once ever give Kovy a lighter fuel load, and that was at Silverstone were he took pole positions by 4 or 5 tenths I think. But on the other hand, I think the main issue is that the car was designed around Lewis, and Kovy just hasn't been able to adapt himself. He also struggles massively on first laps, and I think that became extremely apparent at Monza. But his race pace does pick up.

I still rate Kovalinen as a very good driver. But he needs a bit more support from whatever team he ends up with.

[Amanda]

I like Heikki and what he's saying, about the updates, is true but you can't really expect McLaren, or any other team, to give their poorest driver the new equipment and have their fastest driver floundering behind. It defies logic.

He won't be at McLaren next year, he must know that or he wouldn't be speaking so publicly about this.