Despite being handed penalties at both the Belgian and Italian Grands Prix, Kevin Magnussen's bosses at McLaren remain adamant the young Dane should not change his aggressive style.

At Monza, Magnussen was handed a five-second stop/go penalty for running Valtteri Bottas off the road at the first chicane, a move reminiscent of his defence against Fernando Alonso two weeks earlier. For that incident at Spa Magnussen was handed a 20-second post-race penalty and three demerit points, yet despite the spate of penalties McLaren management doesn't believe there is cause for Magnussen to change the way he goes racing.

"I think the Spa penalty was deserved, to be honest and I believe not the one in Monza," argues Racing Director, Eric Boullier in the latest phone-in interview.

"Monza was unfortunate," he adds. "We believe it was just a normal move and legitimate defence."

Part of the problem, according to Boullier, is that Magnussen is finding himself out of position; racing amongst faster cars, he has little option but to defend vigorously.

"He is maybe punching above his weight," suggests Boullier, "because he doesn't have the car to be fast enough to achieve better results.

"It's good for him, good for the fans, to see this young kid fighting with the big boys.

"He needs to keep building up his confidence by doing what he's doing."

With glowing endorsements from both Boullier and Ron Dennis of late it raises questions over Jenson Button's future with the team. The rather flaccid defence offered by the Briton in Italy, and the combative performance of Magnussen, will not have gone unnoticed in the halls at Woking.

Mat Coch

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Martin B, 10/09/2014 7:44

"I agree with Mat, Eric and Ron - let him fly and show us what he's got - penalties or not. This year, despite the nay-sayers, has been a breath of fresh air for F1 and I hope .
next year will be the same"

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2. Posted by my tyres are going off, 09/09/2014 19:44

"Did not say the team supported one driver over the other, just that the article was critical of Jenson without looking at the season long picture and the Monza results"

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3. Posted by nealio, 09/09/2014 18:42

"I also think that a show of support for one driver isn't a slap in the face for his teammate and shame on the media pundits who encourage this mindset to farther their own agendas."

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4. Posted by nealio, 09/09/2014 18:39

"The management should support him. F1 is extremely challenging for a rookie and the last thing he needs is a bout of navel gazing over past errors, just get on with it."

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5. Posted by my tyres are going off, 09/09/2014 18:13

"That flacid defence did not get a penalty so Jenson finished above Kevin giving him almost double the points of Kevin this season. Something for the halls of Woking to think about"

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Boullier defends Magnussen defence

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