Lewis Hamilton could make his Formula One debut for McLaren at the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, according to the current occupant of the seat.

Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa told commercial television channel Tele 5 that he still has not been told whether he is going to be needed beyond this week's test at Silverstone.

In sunny Northamptonshire, de la Rosa was on Thursday narrowly outpaced for the first time by 21-year-old Hamilton as the Briton's maiden Formula One test concluded.


"The team will soon decide who they want for China," de la Rosa said.

A decision is expected early next week.

Source GMM
CAPSIS International

haha believe it or not... this morning i heard the news reporting that mclaren has a "ridiculous rumour" saying Mika Hakinnen will be joining the team for next year...!!!      

Pedro de la Rosa has told McLaren that he would support Fernando Alonso's quest for a third successive drivers' title if handed the 2007 race drive.

The last remaining competitive seat on next year's Formula One grid is a contest between the 35-year-old Spanish veteran, who replaced Juan Pablo Montoya at the Woking team this year, and GP2 champion Lewis Hamilton.

De la Rosa told the Spanish newspaper Diario As this week: "I want to help Fernando to win."

He admitted that Briton Hamilton, 21, is probably favourite to land the drive, despite indications from corporate Spain that an all-Spanish line up could further bolster McLaren's finances for 2007.

"Hamilton grew up with McLaren and Ron Dennis over the last ten years," de la Rosa conceded, "so it is a hard fight for me. But anything can still happen."

McLaren will announce its decision before Christmas, with de la Rosa already promised either a race or test role.

The veteran of 72 Grand Prix said the three tests before Christmas will therefore be 'very interesting'.

"I think I would be a good complement to Fernando," Spanish sports daily Marca also quoted Pedro de la Rosa as saying. "We want to be champions. We want to win and I am of the opinion that I can help Fernando."

Source GMM
CAPSIS International

Speculation about a possible return to Formula One for 1998 and 1999 world champion Mika Hakkinen is gaining further momentum this week.

The latest news is his signing of a commercial deal with scotch-whiskey brand Johnnie Walker.

The 38-year-old Finn, who left McLaren in 2001 but is reportedly eyeing the vacant seat alongside Fernando Alonso for next year, has become a 'Responsible Drinking Ambassador' for the Diageo-owned label's sponsorship of the F1 team.

"Mika's close association with McLaren and Mercedes, and his status as a role model for professionalism, precision and control to race fans around the world make him perfect for this job," said Johnnie Walker's global brand director Ben Anderson.

Hakkinen drove for Mercedes-Benz in the DTM category in 2005 and 2006.

D.T.
Source GMM

British rookie Lewis Hamilton will race for one of F1's top teams next year and have a World Champion for a teammate, but he will not become an instant millionaire.

London based newspaper The Times says the 21-year-old McLaren racer, to be one of four Britons on the grid next year, will earn about $675,000 in 2007.

However, while the terms of his contract with the Woking based team are basically unknown, it is expected that Hamilton could add up to $250,000 per race to his income with performance bonuses.

"Hamilton's salary could then rise to about $1.3m and then up to $3.8m in year three. From then, a successful career could net him up to $13.5m a year or more," the newspaper wrote.

Hamilton, 21, explained on Friday that he was told by Ron Dennis that he had secured the coveted drive on September 30 -- before the 2006 formula one season had finished and in the midst of speculation that Pedro de la Rosa or Gary Paffett might get the job.

Another British newspaper, The Guardian, quoted Dennis as saying that he thinks Hamilton is already as good as any driver in F1 with the exception of Fernando Alonso or Kimi Raikkonen.

He said: "I am distinctly unimpressed with the majority of drivers currently involved in Formula One."

Source GMM
CAPSIS International

1998 and 1999 World Champion Mika Hakkinen will test a McLaren Mercedes when the winter period kicks off at Circuit de Catalunya this week, according to newspaper reports in Spain.

The 38-year-old Finn left Formula One in 2001, but returned last year to the DTM touring car series and has in recent days been doing laps in the Woking based team's computer simulator.

Ron Dennis admitted this week that Hakkinen is 'keen to contribute' to McLaren's F1 programme.

The Team Principal added: "On the basis that Kimi (Raikkonen) and Juan Pablo Montoya not being available and not being appropriate to the work we are doing for next year, Mika can evaluate some of the things we are developing and bringing to the car."

Spain's Diario As contends that McLaren 'intend to take advantage of (Hakkinen's) experience with Bridgestone tyres' at the test.

The newspaper did not say on which of the three days in Barcelona Hakkinen would test.

The sports daily Marca, meanwhile, headlined the latest Hakkinen rumour as predicting that the Finn is going to be McLaren's 'sport advisor' in 2007.

Hakkinen, at the McLaren factory again this week, was quoted as saying: "It is just rumours. It is still my objective to be in the DTM but if McLaren asks me to help them then I am very happy to do that."

Dennis, meanwhile, reportedly said: "Mika's presence is going to be very important. He is incredibly enthusiastic, he knows this team inside-out and is going to help us to develop the car."

Source GMM
CAPSIS International

Pedro de la Rosa has issued a warning to McLaren to expect a difficult transition in the 2007 season.

The Spanish test driver, in a huddle of his national journalists at the team's Woking factory on Thursday, was visibly still disappointed to have recently missed out on the seat alongside Fernando Alonso to the GP2 rookie Lewis Hamilton.

2007 will be the first year in more than a decade in which McLaren will enter a season with a completely new race line-up.

De la Rosa, 35, told the Spanish newspaper Marca: "I believe that stability is very important. Change can sometimes be a very bad thing, like after 2004 when Williams lost both Ralf Schumacher and (Juan Pablo) Montoya.

"It was a disaster."

Team boss Ron Dennis said on Thursday that Pedro's future at the Mercedes powered team 'is secure', even if de la Rosa did not rule out leaving the sport at the end of the season.

Pedro commented: "I cannot deny that their decision is difficult to accept, but my attitude and the professionalism of my work is not going to change.

"My motivation in 2007 is to help Fernando to win the championship."

E.A.
Source GMM

While other team-mates tussle for top status, McLaren rookie Lewis Hamilton says he accepts that he is Woking's number two - based on his experience at least.

The 22-year-old is a long time protégé of team boss Ron Dennis and the reigning GP2 title winner, but this year teams up with world champion Fernando Alonso.

Briton Hamilton vowed to learn from his Spanish team-mate, who in 2005 and 2006 beat Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher to the crown, rather than put himself under pressure to lead the way.

"I'm just very realistic," he said, explaining that Alonso has an obvious edge due to his age, experience and success.

"It's better to sit back and say okay, he's going to be number one - he's my benchmark, that's where I have to work to and I have to close that gap.

"Who knows, we might get to the first race and it might be a lot closer than people expect," he added.

Hamilton said he agreed with observers who are giving him only a few months to prove he has winning potential.

"I need to be quick and I need to be on the pace," he acknowledged. "You can't be in a top team and not produce the goods."

E.A.
Source GMM

Hey...are you ok? 
Why did you move your legs like that after you crashed? 
How do we differentiate a dirty or not dirty side? 

dirty side - not racing line?

1st, 3rd and 5th that line is the racing line