SEPANG, Malaysia, March 21, 2008 (AFP) - Heikki Kovalainen is taking a long-term approach to his first season with the McLaren Mercedes-Benz team in a bid to avoid over-reaching himself.

The Finn looked certain to finish as runner-up to his teammate Briton Lewis Hamilton until a safety car wrecked his hopes in last Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

After his experiences last season in his rookie year with Renault, he has decided he does not need to wow the world every time he hits the track.

"I made that mistake last year and I am not doing it again," he said. "I think I'll really try and improve step by step and not over-hit it and do mistakes like (I did) sometimes last year.

"And I will try and keep the trend going upwards. Of course, not just to cruise around, but if I feel the car is performing well and I fit in with the car I will push more.

"And if the car doesn't feel like it's there I will back off a bit and go with the pace I can do."

His wisdom has come with the comfort of knowing he is at a team where he feels at home after a challenging first year at Renault. He moved to McLaren to replace double world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who went back to Renault after an unhappy season.

"I know there is a lot more to come and I will get stronger as the year goes on. There's no question about that," he said.

Kovalainen finished fifth in Melbourne after losing fourth place to Alonso when he hit the pit-lane speed limiter as he was racing down the straight.

Raikkonen said: "I feel this team is supporting me 100 per cent and I have the same chance as Lewis. I have nothing negative to say about anyone."

In Friday's practice, Kovalainen was seventh fastest at the end of the afternoon. Hamilton was top of the times.