Heikki Kovalainen says he is confident of being treated equally with team-mate Lewis Hamilton at McLaren next season.

The former Renault driver has swapped places with former world champion Fernando Alonso, who has left McLaren after a fractious one-year stint.

"One thing I wanted to establish before signing was that I'd be treated equally," he told BBC London 94.9.

"I think we can fight on the track as much as we can but off the track we can laugh about it."

Hamilton had a remarkable debut season in Formula One, leading the championship for much of the season before finishing second to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen after a dramatic final race.

But the very publicly strained relationship between Alonso and his English team-mate gained almost as much coverage as Hamilton's achievements on the track, with the Spaniard complaining that McLaren were giving the rookie preferential treatment.

"I think in the past McLaren have treated drivers equally - including this year. I don't think it will be a problem at all," said Kovalainen, who joined Renault last season as Alonso's replacement.

"We won't have any problems - I think we can help the team go forward."

Hamilton's father Anthony also said he was looking forward to a more peaceful 2008 season, after the drama of the relationship with Alonso and the spying row with Ferrari.

"I don't expect any issues with team-mates or other teams or drivers," he said.

"We've all had a rough 2007 - I think everybody's focus next year will be: 'Let's just have a good year whoever wins' - that's what we want.

"Heikki is a decent guy, Lewis is a decent guy, so I'm sure they'll get on well. We've known him for a long time - Lewis and Heikki raced karts against each other."

hope it will be a better machine than 2007. haha
so confirm no ferrari data on this new car rite?

LEWIS HAMILTON
Nationality British
Date of Birth 07/01/85
Place of Birth Stevenage , UK

Following its launch in Stuttgart earlier this week, McLaren's 2008 car made its track debut in Jerez early on Wednesday morning. Tester Pedro de la Rosa, who was tasked with taking the MP4-23 out on the Spanish circuit for the first time, pulled out of the garage at just after 0900 hours local time.

The Spaniard will be joined by newly-signed race driver Heikki Kovalainen later on in the day. Kovalainen, who raced for Renault in 2007, will take charge of a second MP4-23, as he makes his first on-track appearance for McLaren.

The squad, who are scheduled to test privately for the next three days, will concentrate on kick starting the 2008 car's on-track development, ahead of next week's multi-team session at the circuit.

Hamilton is 23 years old and his car number is 23 also ... what a coincidence, hope that will bring luck to him !

ykc, lewis will be driving car no. 22. heikki is driving #23

my bad�

come to think of it, the car model is MP4-23 ... there's 23 in there also

Anyone know the times from testing? Or is it all hush hush