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I don't know if this is good news or not! I think McLaren should have put De La Rosa in the other seat as he's a safe bet, but doesn't have the speed to challenge Hamilton, so would give Hamilton a good shot at the title assuming the car is good for 2008.

I've got a feeling however that Kovy may get the better of Hamilton once he's settled into the team. McLaren have had some great success with Finnish drivers in the past and bar the 1st race he put in some great, consistant performances in a poor Renault car.

De la Rosa was involved with Alonso in all the trouble last season. Supprised McLaren haven't sacked him.

I disagree, I think Kovalainen is a great choice for the 2nd McLaren.

de la Rosa is a good solid test driver but he won't be there to pick up the wins/podiums when it goes wrong for Hamilton which over the course of a season occasionally it will.

Kovalainen is fast and will keep Lewis honest, but I doubt over the course of a season he will be able to challenge him consistently. An excellent choice in my book.

Also it is great that having been ousted from Renault by Alonso's move there he will now get Alonso's McLaren drive - karma I think they call it :D

I've been hoping for this since it all started. I rate him highly and I think he's also less manufactured than Hamilton, hopefully the McLaren corporate machine won't turn him into a hamilton clone with all the prepared responses and media polish.

I rate Heiki highly, and reckon he'll do well with Lewis.

Not quite sure of the possible outcome of the legal action Ferrari is taking against Maclaren in Italy and the UK, maybe they played safe and had a driver who wasn't involved in it so that someone could keep the points coming in while everyone else is in jail :D:D:D

I rate Heiki highly, and reckon he'll do well with Lewis.

Not quite sure of the possible outcome of the legal action Ferrari is taking against Maclaren in Italy and the UK, maybe they played safe and had a driver who wasn't involved in it so that someone could keep the points coming in while everyone else is in jail :D:D:D

No, they've just sorted themselves a decent driver

If you ever watched GP2, Hamilton was streets ahead of the rest. Kovalainen is good, but you have to remember that Hamilton came up againt the guy who had just won two world championships and for a large part of the season, made him look average. However, Hamilton has never shown that he can make an average car look special. Alonso has done that for the past three seasons. The FIA Ferraris will walk away with it next year, with a battle between McLaren and Renault for 2nd. McLaren will be good in the early season and Renault will catch up in the second half when the eyebrow gets sorted out

Clarkson needs to get Koywhatis name in the Top Gear shed and see what time he can clock - then we'll really know who the next World Champion is without having to watch 19 very boring races!

good choice in my view too - he's a great driver, keen to learn, and already gets on well with Lewis so shouldn't be politics like this year. McLaren need a decent year where they made headlines on the track, rather than in the paddock.

And Lewis is quicker too ;)

I've been hoping for this since it all started. I rate him highly and I think he's also less manufactured than Hamilton, hopefully the McLaren corporate machine won't turn him into a hamilton clone with all the prepared responses and media polish.

I have to say that is this unpleasant inferred criticism of Hamilton's character is quite unecessary as well as grossly unfair. He is one of the best new talents to be seen for a long time and he has a pleasant natural personality born of innate good manners which I belive to be all his own. Do you honestly think that McLaren have a special department to train their drivers in the way they present themselves? If they did how would say they managed with Alonso then? You seem to be a part of the great British put down of anyone who achieves a bit of success, usually born out of "green eyes"!

I think Kovalainen will be a good choice and I think he will not be far behind Hamilton which is no bad thing.

Les

Les

McLaren need a decent year where they made headlines on the track, rather than in the paddock.

This looks increasingly unlikely. After recently admitting that Ferrari information was more widely used throughout the team McLaren are having to re-design portions of the 2008 car (it's only 3 months before the start of the season..)

They're also having difficulties getting new sponsors onboard too for obvious reasons. On top of that there's the $100m fine. Then there's calls for Dennis to resign.

Hardly a good platform for a strong season. I hope they don't slip down the grid, but I suspect Ferrari will be the team to beat next season, and McLaren may find themselves battling with Renault, BMW and Williams.

Can't wait for the first race of 2008 anyway - going to be another interesting season!!

Do you honestly think that McLaren have a special department to train their drivers in the way they present themselves?

Yes I do. Do you honestly think they were involved in the grooming of a kid from a young age and offered him no media training?
They don't just want a talented driver (which he undoubtedly is), they need a sponsor and media friendly image as well. They had no involvement in the upbringing of Alonso but have been very close to Hamilton.

He's good to watch while behind the wheel but is just too polished and manufactured out the car.
The same thing was the case with David Coulthard when he first came on the scene, he'd been brought on by Jackie Stewart with particular attention to media and commercial appeal and he was very plastic for a few years.

Yes I do. Do you honestly think they were involved in the grooming of a kid from a young age and offered him no media training?
They don't just want a talented driver (which he undoubtedly is), they need a sponsor and media friendly image as well. They had no involvement in the upbringing of Alonso but have been very close to Hamilton.

He's good to watch while behind the wheel but is just too polished and manufactured out the car.
The same thing was the case with David Coulthard when he first came on the scene, he'd been brought on by Jackie Stewart with particular attention to media and commercial appeal and he was very plastic for a few years.

Do you have first hand knowledge of how McLaren have as you say "groomed" Hamilton? If you haven't then all you say is just supposition. He is a naturally well mannered young man and I would put that down to his parents rather than anything Ron Dennis may have done.

I think it is regrettable that you should run his character down as you have purely because you are unable to recognise that he is just a good bloke who is always prepared to talk politely and in a sensible manner to anyone who speaks to him.

I think you would do well to learn to accept success wihout looking for a way to criticise a person just because of it.

Les

Who's running down his character? Who's criticising him because of his success..?
I applaud his success but if he'd scored no points at all I would still hold the opinion that I do and at the end of the day, that's what it is - my opinion.

Who's running down his character? Who's criticising him because of his success..?
I applaud his success but if he'd scored no points at all I would still hold the opinion that I do and at the end of the day, that's what it is - my opinion.

Yes of course, but I am also entitled to criticise your opinion which I regsrd to be unfair and inaccurate.

Les

If you ever watched GP2, Hamilton was streets ahead of the rest. Kovalainen is good, but you have to remember that Hamilton came up againt the guy who had just won two world championships and for a large part of the season, made him look average. However, Hamilton has never shown that he can make an average car look special. Alonso has done that for the past three seasons. The FIA Ferraris will walk away with it next year, with a battle between McLaren and Renault for 2nd. McLaren will be good in the early season and Renault will catch up in the second half when the eyebrow gets sorted out

I think your wrong there

FIA Ferrari's will walk away with it
Runners up will between BMW and Mclaren
Renault are struggling with a limited bugdet

Hamilton will get the better of Kovi but not by much!