McLaren deny lining up Rosberg for 2009

Formula One title contenders McLaren denied this week that they were lining up Williams' German driver Nico Rosberg to partner Lewis Hamilton next season.

"We can confirm that we have not had any contact with Nico Rosberg, or with his management, about him driving for us in 2009," said chief executive Martin Whitmarsh in response to media speculation in Germany.

Rosberg, German-born son of Finland's 1982 world champion Keke, is under contract to Williams for next season.

Germany's Sport Bild newspaper this week quoted Willi Weber, who now manages Williams test driver Nico Hulkenberg as well as Michael Schumacher's business affairs, as suggesting Rosberg could replace Finland's Heikki Kovalainen at Mercedes-powered McLaren.

Kovalainen joined the team from Renault at the end of last season and, at the halfway point in the championship, has scored half as many points as leader Hamilton.

The Finn did, however, secure his first pole position at Silverstone this month and McLaren have been publicly supportive of his efforts.

"Sometimes it takes a while and then probably some very good results come in a row," Mercedes motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug said.

Kovalainen told reporters in the Mercedes grandstand at Hockenheim they had yet to see his real ability and hoped to shine this weekend.

"I hope it's three or four days away," he said of his first Formula One victory. "I think it could have happened earlier this year.

"But there's no stress about that for me. The most important thing is that I've been in the position to fight for the victory quite a few times already this year.

"For sure you haven't seen the best, there is more to come."