Despite not airing his discontent publicly, Heikki Kovalainen is reportedly unhappy with his treatment by the McLaren team this year.

The 27-year-old Finn has been retained by the British squad for 2009, and recently declared he is "really, really happy in this team".

But a newspaper report insists Kovalainen is uncomfortable with his escalating role as a supportive driver for his championship contending teammate Lewis Hamilton.

The Straits Times, a major Singaporean broadsheet, claims the driver has told "friends that if his interests are not better served next season, he may have to consider his position".

The report said Kovalainen is specifically unhappy about always receiving higher fuel loads for the decisive qualifying phase, leaving him out of contention to compete with Hamilton in the races.

Heikki's apparent gripes have come to light after the Chinese grand prix, where he initially struggled due to the fitting of a set of "mismatched tyres".

He was also struggling with brake problems, before the Mercedes powered team asked him to retire because his engine developed an air pressure problem.

It means Kovalainen's car will feature a brand new engine for the title-decisive race of the season at Interlagos, while Hamilton's V8 unit is already a race old.

McLaren will therefore be able to "balance the two approaches to engine life" in Brazil, as outlined by chief executive Martin Whitmarsh earlier this week.

Source: GMM