McLaren defended Heikki Kovalainen's performance after the Finn lost to Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel in last weekend's Italian GP despite starting on the front row.

"Heikki has no reason to feel disappointed," said McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh in a team debrief.

"The reality is that he didn't put a foot wrong all weekend and looked blindingly fast in dry, damp and full-wet conditions," he added.

"Let's not forget that Heikki is fearsomely quick but is still very much developing his approach. We have a clearly defined programme for him in the weeks and months ahead and feel certain that he will only grow stronger."

Kovalainen, in his first season with McLaren after a difficult rookie year with Renault, won last month's Hungarian GP but has fallen out of contention in the championship battle.

British team-mate Lewis Hamilton has won four of the 14 races so far, as well as being stripped of a fifth victory in Belgium, and leads with 78 points. Kovalainen has scored 51 and is sixth overall.

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