Kovalainen looks to step out of Hamilton's shadow

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Heikki Kovalainen is determined to step out from the shadow of his McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton -- starting this weekend in Germany.

While Hamilton's win at a soaking Silverstone last time out moved him to the top of the drivers' standings, Kovalainen saw his pole position turn into a disappointing fifth-place finish.

The Finn has only scored 24 points and bagged one podium since switching from Renault over the winter, but he is hoping Hockenheim plays host to a turnaround in his fortunes.

"For sure, in the dry at Silverstone I couldn't believe how good the car felt and just how much I could keep pushing it. It felt better than ever," he said.

"But the race showed I can still do more to improve. I know I have the speed, I just need to work harder to apply it across the whole race weekend.

"Hockenheim is more of a technical, medium-speed circuit so I wouldn't expect us to have any particular advantage -- but the car does feel very good here."

Another man who has found himself playing second fiddle this season is BMW-Sauber's Nick Heidfeld.

His team-mate Robert Kubica claimed BMW's first Formula One victory in Canada and the Pole even briefly headed the drivers' championship.

But Heidfeld said his second place in Britain was the platform he needed going into his, and his team's, home grand prix.

"I was concerned about my qualifying performance," he said. "But I also knew that I hadn't suddenly forgotten how to drive a car and that my race speed was still good.

"Clearly, it gives me an extra push to go into my home grand prix on the back of a podium finish in the last race.

"I want to keep heading in the same direction -- get a good position on the grid and do as well as possible in the race itself."

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has spent much of this season struggling to recapture former glories with Renault.

Paddock rumor has him moving to Ferrari next season, but the Spaniard is focusing on pushing the Anglo-French team up the grid.

"It's important for us to continue improving because we want to finish this season strongly and have some good races," he said.

"At the moment we are not on terms with the leading teams, but we are moving in the right direction. The team is working hard and I will continue to give my maximum."