Dennis: sporting gesture

Lewis was nearly a second quicker than Heikki through the race and when he was told Lewis was quicker he just let him past.

Ron Dennis
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Ron Dennis has denied that McLaren used team orders in the German GP, insisting that Heikki Kovalainen moved aside for Lewis Hamilton of his own free will.

Following his second pit stop of the afternoon, Hamilton found himself behind Kovalainen on the track but lapping much faster than his Finnish team-mate.

On lap 52 Kovalainen went wide allowing for Hamilton to easily slide up the inside and take the place away from him. From there Hamilton went on to overtake Felipe Massa and Nelson Piquet Jr to win the grand prix.

McLaren, though, were later questioned about whether team orders, which are banned from F1, had come into play. Dennis denied it.

Driver's call

"The only thing we advise drivers is the respective pace of the other driver and they ultimately call it," Dennis told the Guardian.

"Lewis was nearly a second quicker than Heikki through the race and when he was told Lewis was quicker he just let him past.

"He knew that was the only way because the longer he would have held up Lewis the more difficult it would have been for him to have regained the lead.

"It was a tremendous sporting gesture and it's what being in a racing team is about. True team-mates do these things because that's the way they are."

Oversteer

He added: "Heikki was troubled by oversteer and wasn't able to match Lewis's pace.

"But it is a mark of both his professionalism and his sportsmanship that, aware of his situation relative to Lewis's, he made it relatively straightforward for Lewis to pass him.

"It's a joy to have two drivers who are not only super-competitive but also super-cooperative."