Well, it's looking more & more likely that we will have Fernando Alonso as the #1 driver & no Kimi or JPM next year. It seems to me that the stage is being set for this young gun to take on the role of second driver. I wonder how good he'll be in F1? He is tearing it up in GP2, but we all know that means nothing. F1 is on a completely different level.



From F1-Live.com


[07/05/06 - 13:27]

Hamilton could join McLaren in 2007
McLaren protégé making a big impression in GP2


Aiming for the GP2 title in 2006 and F1 in 2007


McLaren team chief Ron Dennis said here Sunday that British GP2 star Lewis Hamilton could race for McLaren in Formula One next year.

Hamilton, 20, who has been strongly-tipped to become Formula One's first black driver within the next few years, earlier completed a crushing double win in the Formula One-supporting GP2 series at the Nurburgring in Germany.

When asked whether Hamilton, who has been managed by McLaren for nine years, could drive for McLaren as early as next year, Dennis said: "It's not impossible. It is very early days and we have to see how his performances evolve, but our position as a team has always been to look at good, available drivers, and Lewis is a very good driver."

Fernando Alonso will lead McLaren's assault next season when the Spaniard moves from Renault, but the identity of the team's second driver is unresolved.

With Kimi Raikkonen set to decide in June whether to join Ferrari or stay with McLaren and Juan Pablo Montoya's future uncertain, Hamilton, who was not previously in contention for a race seat, has now become a strong possibility.

At the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Dennis categorically stated that Hamilton would not make his Grand Prix debut with McLaren if he joins Formula One in 2007, due to their no-rookies policy, but he seems now to have relaxed that stance somewhat.

Dennis also revealed that various sponsorship offers have been made to the team, on condition that Hamilton gets a race seat, by companies keen on the novelty of the first black Formula One driver.

"Over the years, we have been offered various financial support packages contingent on those elements (Hamilton getting a race seat), and we rejected them," Dennis said. "We've backed Lewis since he was 11 and see him as a very focused, young, talented driver who is working hard out of the car as much as in it. His colour is immaterial."





[08/05/06 - 17:02]

Hamilton may be '07 option, Dennis hints
''It is always nice to have options''



Lewis Hamilton



Rising GP2 star Lewis Hamilton says he is 'not even thinking' about his possible switch into Formula One next season.

''All I am focusing on is winning this championship,'' the Briton said, following his dominant display in front of grand prix bosses at the Nurburgring.

McLaren chief Ron Dennis, who has back-rolled the 21-year-old's junior career since he turned eleven, earlier refused to rule out the scenario of putting Hamilton alongside Fernando Alonso at the silver team.

''Our goal is to contract the best drivers we can,'' he told reporters in Germany, ''and it is always nice to have options.''

 

Hamilton Lewis is the separated-at-birth twin of Cabas, the colombian singer.

 

Norbert Haug: "I don't expect us to race with two new drivers next season." (Source)


Maybe McLaren will finally get together their B team and he will have a drive with them... or more likely no one knows anything yet and we'll just have to wait until July to find out.

 

there will not be a mclaren b team. the limit for 2008 is 12 teams, the current 11 + prodrive, it has already been anounced.

as for hamilton, i hope he gets it, i've been following his career in autosport for a couple of years now, he's good

kimi to ferrari