New parts help Hamilton, Kovalainen must wait

McLaren worked around the clock to improve world champion Lewis Hamilton's car at the German Grand Prix today, with the cupboard empty for team mate Heikki Kovalainen.

Hamilton was top of the timesheets in today's second practice, raising his hopes of getting back in the points after four races without, while Finland's Kovalainen was a distant 17th.

Engineering director Paddy Lowe explained however that Hamilton had the advantage of a revised floor and new aerodynamic parts.

"We definitely have made a step with the car, Lewis is very happy with it," he told a news conference. "The pieces that we brought have all worked and I hope to see that will translate into a real difference.

"Unfortunately, we didn't have enough pieces for Heikki to have the same package," he added.

"He will get some of them but not all of them, unfortunately, which is something we always try not to do but in exceptional circumstances which these are then we have to do that."

Lowe said employees at the factory had worked day and night to get the parts ready for engine partners Mercedes' home race, with McLaren suffering four races in a row without a point in their worst run of form since 1980-81.

Hamilton has just nine points from eight races and is 55 adrift of championship-leading compatriot Jenson Button.

"The package that we've brought here was accelerated by more than a fortnight to get it here in time. I know of a guy who worked on a machine 36 hours non-stop, without sleep, earlier this week," said Lowe.

Kovalainen accepted the situation.

"Without the upgrades, we didn't have a good basic package and had some trouble getting heat into the tyres," he said. "But the lack of parts is simply an indication of how hard we are working and, of course, I understand that.