Heikki Kovalainen has been backed by his McLaren-Mercedes team bosses following his disappointing performance in the British Grand Prix at
Silverstone today, when after starting from his maiden
Formula 1 pole position he faded away to fifth spot at the chequered flag lapped by race-winning team-mate
Lewis Hamilton.
The young Finn had looked dominant for most of the weekend in the build-up to the race itself, being a consistent top three runner throughout practice and the early stages of qualifying, before going on to quite literally blitz the field to thoroughly earn his first pole in his 26th outing in the top flight.
Despite maintaining that advantage when the lights went out to signal the start of the grand prix, however bravely rebuffing a challenge from a fast-starting Hamilton into Copse Corner for the first time the 26-year-old would concede the lead just four laps later. He subsequently spun away second place to
Ferrari's
Kimi Raikkonen in the treacherous conditions, and later spun again thereby costing himself what Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Vice-President Norbert Haug reckoned could have been second place.
I had a good start and, for a few laps, Lewis was really pushing hard, Kovalainen reported afterwards, which meant he eventually managed to overtake me on lap five when I ran a little wide.
It was an extremely difficult race with lots of things happening. It was so easy to get caught out today by aquaplaning and slippery conditions. I spun twice, but I was not the only one. At least I scored four points and helped to increase our constructors' points total. Congratulations to Lewis on his superb home win.
