Apr.4 (GMM) McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen has taken issue with team boss Ron Dennis' recent claim that he was "taken apart" by the Renault team as he tackled his rookie season in 2007.



Dennis said last month that his Mercedes-powered outfit can take the credit for rebuilding the 26-year-old Finn.



"Heikki is a guy who was systematically taken apart last year and we have systematically put him back together again," Dennis, whose relationship with Renault boss Flavio Briatore is famed for its acrimony, said at Sepang.



But Kovalainen said in Bahrain that he thought Dennis had exaggerated.



"I felt I did some very good races last year and unfortunately some people just don't see that," Kovalainen, who finished ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton in Malaysia and is on the Briton's pace at Sakhir, added.



"I never had any doubts about myself. I don't think I was broken or destroyed at any point. I had all the support at Renault, and I feel the same here."