McLaren downplay Kovalainen error

Heikki Kovalainen should not be kicking himself for the late race mistake that cost him fourth place in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, says his team boss Ron Dennis

The Finn had looked set for a podium finish but a late-race safety car wrecked his chances and dropped him down the order.

On the penultimate lap he pulled off a brilliant move to get past then fourth placed Fernando Alonso but, coming onto the start-finish straight, he accidentally activated his pitlane speed limiter as he cleaned his visor.

That mistake allowed Alonso to get past him again, and there was not enough time to respond to retake the position.

But despite what happened, Dennis believes Kovalainen has no reason to feel bad and should be delighted with his first outing for the team.

"I have explained to him how punishing yourself has no benefit at all: he had a faultless race," said Dennis. "Okay, he hit the pitlane speed limiter but I've seen lots of people do that and I'm sure he won't do that again.

"I could see the pain that he was in. I know he feels this is a fantastic opportunity for him and he doesn't want to muck it up, and it would be counter-productive to him if there were any feeling that he did, because he didn't.

"He did a fantastic job this weekend and did everything we asked him to do. And without the safety car he would have had an absolute well-earned second place.

"So he should take the positives from that and he should go to Malaysia realising there's absolutely no reason why he can't be everything we know he can be. He's nowhere near where he will be in five or six races' time. He's going to get better and better - as will Lewis."