04/11/2007
NEWS STORY
As Fernando Alonso heads off in search of pastures new, McLaren faces the challenge of finding a driver to partner Lewis Hamilton in 2008, with the Englishman now (seemingly) promoted to the role of outright number one at the Woking outfit.
Speaking at Mercedes' 'Stars and Cars' event, the youngster admitted that he has no idea who would be partnering him next season, though he hopes that whoever it is it will be a "team player".
"I think we just need a team player," said the Englishman, according to Reuters. "I hope whoever we have, we have another team player.
"I think Nick Heidfeld has already been signed to BMW," he continued, "so I think there's Nico (Rosberg), Adrian Sutil and Heikki Kovalainen, one of those three and I haven't really guessed which one.
"They are all fantastic drivers and I know all of them quite well. If I could choose I honestly don't know who I would pick. They all have contracts so that's what makes it so hard to guess. They are all tied down."
Rosberg is thought to be top of Ron Dennis' shopping list, however, Frank Williams has repeatedly warned that the youngster is not available. Furthermore, while Nico's father (Keke) is understood to be concerned that teaming the youngster with Hamilton could have a negative impact on the German's career.