Heikki Kovalainen will not help McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the Briton's bid to be Formula One world champion.

With seven races remaining, Hamilton goes into Sunday's European Grand Prix around the marina of Valencia with a five-point lead over Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, and eight to Felipe Massa.

But Kovalainen said: "The desire to win more grands prix is 100 per cent. With regard to helping Lewis, I don't think he needs any help to be honest."

He added: "He is strong enough to win it himself. Certainly I'm not planning to help him. If I have a chance to win another race then I will go for it.

"I'm still trying to improve my position in the championship, and that's also the quest of the team, so I don't need to help anyone."