14/12/2007
NEWS STORY
McLaren Chief Operating Officer Martin Whitmarsh has dropped the broadest hint yet that Heikki Kovalainen could be heading to Woking to partner Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
Although admitting that the team is still considering promoting Pedro de la Rosa to the second race seat - a move which would go some way to appeasing (Spanish) sponsor Santander, Whitmarsh told The Guardian: "I think Heikki looks like a very interesting driver".
With Flavio Briatore having previously warned that the Finn's time at Renault was at an end, the 'divorce' was made official when Nelson Piquet Jr was named as Fernando Alonso's teammate for next year last Monday.
Kovalainen has been linked with a number of teams including Toyota, however, Whitmarsh's comments would appear to suggest that the former GP2 Series star will follow in the steps of other famous Finns - Keke Rosberg, Mika Hakkinen and Kimi Raikkonen - to drive for the Woking team.
Meanwhile, de la Rosa told Spain's El Pais that he expects McLaren to confirm its line-up before the end of the year. "Right now two people are up for the seat and I guess we will know soon who the second driver will be, in less than a week," said the Spaniard.