McLaren Not Worrying despite Failures

Speaking about the fact that Raikkonen has lost 10 places on the grid for the British Grand Prix, just a week after he suffered a similar fate at Magny-Cours, Dennis has insisted his sole focus is still on pushing his team to make improvements to their car and engine.

"It is not productive to go down any emotional path," he said. "You have to cope with the inevitable problems in Formula One. We don't spend time worrying; we spend all our time improving our competitiveness.

"The word worry is not on the menu. Stress? Now that's another thing! But definitely not worry."

Dennis admitted that the one engine per two race weekend regulation appeared to be hindering his team more than title rivals Renault, but that is was a price they were willing to pay for their push to improve their car.

"Certainly it is not helping us, but it is the same for everyone," he explained. "Part of this year's regulations require your engines to last two races, and if they don't then you take a penalty, it is a simple fact.

"The position that we are in, if you look at the mathematics, is we have had two failures and this is two more than you would like.

"But, when you take into account the pace of our development, we have not stood still. We haven't gone for the safe route on the car or engine development programme, and inevitably you are going to get caught out occasionally. There is a long way to go and we can still have a strong race tomorrow."

Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug has vowed to try and ensure that there is no repeat of the engine problems in the future. In 2003, it was widely accepted that a power-unit failure for Kimi Raikkonen at the European Grand Prix cost him the world title.

"Of course, if you have two failures in two races, last Friday and this Saturday, then it is an issue, but we have a very good process in place," explained Haug. "We are taking a chance, but we will work very hard to avoid the problems in the future.

"I cannot justify this, I am heavily critical, and we deserve to be criticised on it. Having said that, it cost us probably two points in France last weekend, and if you look back in the last five races he won two times, he was one time second and one time he was leading until the last lap.

"We are a team that works together. Here and there we deserve to be criticised, in that case you can do so, but on the other hand these guys have done a good job and they have the full support from me."

Despite the events, however, Dennis is adamant that Raikkonen will not let the engine failures allow his motivation to wane.

"Kimi copes very well with the inevitable disappointments in Grand Prix racing," said Dennis. "He shrugs it off, it is one of his strengths. He gets better every week.

"Like all drivers, the thing they need to flourish is success. He is driving a very competitive car and he knows that whenever he is behind the wheel he has the chance to win. Is he better than last year? Most definitely.

"Is he at his best? No, he will get better."