Heikki Kovalainen is refusing to support McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the Briton's bid to become Formula One world champion.
With seven races remaining, Hamilton goes into Sunday's European Grand Prix around the marina of Valencia with a five-point lead over Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, and eight to Felipe Massa.
It is hard to imagine anyone beyond the top three staking a claim on the crown, with BMW Sauber duo Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld 13 and 21 points off the pace respectively.
As for Kovalainen, despite his maiden victory in Hungary just under three weeks ago, he is 24 points adrift, leaving his title chances on a knife-edge.
Such a gap suggests the Finn has precious little chance of winning the championship, and that ideally he should aid Hamilton's quest.
But the 26-year-old has other ideas as he said: "The desire to win more grands prix is 100 per cent.
"With regard to helping Lewis, I don't think he needs any help to be honest.
"He is strong enough to win it himself. Certainly I'm not planning to help him. If I have a chance to win another race then I will go for it.
"I'm still trying to improve my position in the championship, and that's also the quest of the team, so I don't need to help anyone."
Kovalainen did come to Hamilton's aid in the German Grand Prix last month, moving to one side to allow the 23-year-old by en route to victory.
On that occasion, though, Hamilton was two to three seconds per lap quicker and it would have been futile for Kovalainen to block.
Kovalainen, though, is adamant there will be no resting on laurels as he is determined to continue his winning ways.
"In the previous few races I had targeted victory and I felt I was ready to achieve that. To do so was a great feeling," reflected Kovalainen.
"Now it's back to basics, to start all over again to try and repeat it because we need to raise the bar further."
Kovalainen, though, does not believe he has shaken a monkey off his back with the win, adding: "I wasn't stressed about it.
"It was going to happen, and it was just a matter of time. I don't feel it has made a big difference in terms of me feeling easier.
"But I do certainly feel stronger in every area since the start of the season, that I'm driving better, easier behind the car.
"I'm also working well with the engineers. The whole package has come a long way. I just need to carry on with this trend."
Hamilton, meanwhile, has been fined 5,000 euros (Ј4,000) by world governing body, the FIA, after turning up 90 seconds late for the main press conference.
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