Former triple world champion Jackie Stewart has stated that Lewis Hamilton will need teammate Heikki Kovalainen to live  up to his promise and start taking points away from the two Ferrari drivers if he has any hope of securing his first ever world championship crown.

According to Stewart Lewis needs the support from Heikki now more than ever otherwise it could be a very close call. However, McLaren team boss Ron Dennis has refuted Stewart’s assessment on the situation and firmly believes that Lewis would not want to, or need to, win the crown by counting on special assistance from his teammate.

"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 was quoted as saying in Autosport. “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 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. Not every armchair critic will agree with that policy but it's the way we go motor racing. And, to be frank, it's the way everyone goes motor racing these days."

Despite Dennis’ comments, there was a lot of talk to the contrary after the recent German Grand Prix when he was seen talking to one of his drivers on the radio just moments before Heikki made it easy for Lewis to overtake him in final stages of the Hockenheim event.