Print

Mail

wiki links

FORMULA 1: Kovalainen to join Lewis Hamilton at McLaren next year

Heikki Kovalainen has replaced Fernando Alonso on McLaren's team for next season's Formula One season.

The Finn effectively swaps places with Alonso, who has moved to Renault.

McLaren announced the appointment on Friday and said Kovalainen would begin practicing with the team next month.

Kovalainen will team up with Lewis Hamilton, who finished second in this year's drivers' championship behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikonnen. Kovalainen finished seventh.

McLaren are hoping for a trouble-free season next year after fallouts between Alonso and Hamilton and also having all their constructors' points taken away in the aftermath of a spying scandal. McLaren were also fined a record US$100 million in September by the World Motorsport Council for unauthorized possession of confidential Ferrari materials.

"I haven't really spent a lot of time with Lewis so far but from what I know I think we will work well together and do our best for the team," Kovalainen said. "It's up to me to build relationships with the team and the people around me and I know everybody is excited about me joining, so I don't think that will be a problem at all."
This story has been viewed 1384 times.