Hakkinen.Net

[Carina]

Friday, 24th November 2006: Long-term McLaren and Mercedes-Benz protégé Lewis Hamilton has been confirmed as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes racing driver and will make his debut at the opening round of the 2007 Formula 1 World Championship in Australia. 21-year-old Lewis will join World Champion Fernando Alonso racing the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-22 during the 2007 season with both Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett continuing as test drivers.
The 2006 GP2 Champion, who also dominated the 2005 F3 Euro Series in a Dallara Mercedes winning 15 out of 20 races, will recommence his testing programme and the team’s preparations for the 2007 season next week at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona.

"It's a dream come true," said Lewis. "To be racing in Formula 1 with McLaren has been the ultimate goal for me since I was very young and this opportunity is a fantastic way to end what has been the best year for me. I have grown up with McLaren and Mercedes and wouldn't be where I am today without their continued support and guidance. However I'm aware that this will be a challenge and I know that there will be a lot of attention on me. However the team has told me just to relax, do the best I can and enjoy the opportunity. I will work hard to get good results."

Pedro de la Rosa will revert to his role as test driver for the team. Pedro has been racing for Team McLaren Mercedes since the 2006 French Grand Prix in July and achieved a number of points-scoring performances as well as a podium finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"I have really enjoyed the opportunity to race for Team McLaren Mercedes for the last eight races of the 2006 season," commented Pedro. "However I have always been aware that the team might decide to give another driver the same opportunity, so the fact that Lewis will be in the car comes as no surprise. Obviously I would have preferred to race myself but also understand why the team has decided to put Lewis in the car. I wish him all the best and look forward to continue working with him."

Gary Paffett will continue in his role with the team working on the test and engineering programme alongside Lewis, Fernando and Pedro.

“I am delighted to be remaining with the team, it is a fantastic racing organisation and I am looking forward to working with my fellow teammates on our 2007 Championship challenge," said Gary Paffett. "As with any driver, there is always a desire to be racing in Formula 1, however this was not possible. We had a number of other opportunities available and have decided that this was the strongest option. I would like to congratulate Lewis on today’s announcement.”

"Since 1998 Lewis has formed an important part of our long-term strategy and we are pleased that we are able to help him take another step and achieve his dream of becoming a Formula 1 racing driver," said Ron Dennis, Chairman and CEO, McLaren Group. "Pedro has done an outstanding job for us this season but we felt it was the right time to provide Lewis with this opportunity. It's obviously going to be the biggest challenge of Lewis's career so far but it's one that we are sure he will be able to meet. He is coming into the paddock for the first time as a Formula 1 racing driver and will have to familiarise himself with the pressures of a Grand Prix weekend. However the confidence we have in Lewis's abilities and talent is clear from our decision to give him the chance."

Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport commented how "Lewis is a gifted driver who proved his talent with two consecutive title wins - 2005 in the Formula 3 Euro Series in a Dallara Mercedes and this year in the GP2 Series. McLaren and Mercedes-Benz have supported Lewis already for nine years. He was half as tall as he is today when he started in karting. It's clear that Lewis has less experience in comparison to the other 21 Formula 1 drivers in Grand Prix cars. However extensive tests during the coming months will prepare him for his first season - I am very glad that a guy like him gets his deserved chance."

Lewis has been involved with the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz Young Driver Support Programme since its inception in 1998. He moved through the ranks of karting winning various Championships including the 'McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future' karting series in 1998. Lewis dominated the 2003 British Formula Renault Championship winning 10 out of the Championship's 15 races. In 2004 Lewis competed in the prominent Formula 3 Euro series with Manor Motorsport, powered by Mercedes-Benz engines. In 2005, Lewis dominated the F3 Euro Series Championship, in a car powered by Mercedes-Benz. On 8th September 2006 Lewis won the GP2 Series Championship with the ART team at Monza in Italy, winning five out of 22 rounds, and on Wednesday 13th September Lewis tested the Team McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 car for the first time at the Silverstone circuit in the UK.

[10us]

Congratulations Lewis!!!
I very happy that Lewis Hamilton is annouced as a second driver for McLaren. Although I find Pedro de la Rosa a good driver and a nice guy, I think Lewis deserves the seat. He has proved to be very quick and if he learns fast next year he can show some nice things. Beware Fernando
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[kaisa]

Hallo!

I think everything goes to fast for Lewis and that the pressure and the expectations are too hig (that he is good in another serie does not mean that he is as good as he was in F1).
And last but not least: how can Lewis be a help for Alonso to win the championchip?
Sorry, I think this is a wrong decision abouth a driver again. Let`s pray and hope that it is no wrong decision to take Alonso. Outherwise: good night MCLaren.

Kaisa.

[wendy_rosberg]

Ohhhh i'm sooooo happyyyyyyy
I'm a hugeeeee fan of Lewis. I really like him. And really believe in him.

I absolutely disagree with you Kaisa. But that's jsut my opinion.
i have been following Lewis for quite some years now. And he's a very good driver. He's very talented. Ofcourse he will first have to learn next season. But there's nothing wrong with that.
The only thing that Alonso needs to become a champion, is a reliable and fast car.... Lewis has nothing to do with that.
Well ofcourse Lewis and Fernando will have to make that car reliable together with the team. But I'm convinced that Lewis has the talent to develop the car.


Oh I'm just way too happy. I could jump up and down all day long now.
Ah i'm so glad that I have atleast one driver at mclaren who I can support. I don't like Fernando, never did...
But I love Lewis. I really can't wait for next season now.

Oh I will have 4 drivers to support now next season
Nico, Heikki, Kimi and Lewis Oh next season will be one hell of a season
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The Unofficial Nico Rosberg Fanclub website is online now. Feel free to join us to support Nico.
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[kaisa]

Hallo, Wendy!

I think that the team needs Lewis to win the team-titel and to improve the car.
Abouth improving the car: o.k. this might not be so important, because of Mikas support (you read the quote from Ron Dennis abouth that? I think in this situation nothing better could happen for the team than Mikas support, because he can not only do it in theorie, he can also drive some tests, if he wants; and I think he wants because of the medical examination and Dennis quotes that more support will follow up).

I can understand that you are quite happy, but I think you should also have in your mind a quote I read that Lewis contract might not be a one year contract. It can be so that the team decides from race to race who should race (if you ask me: this is a good decision to do so, because Lewis is soo young, without excperiences in F1 and he gets a lot of pressure which might be too much).

Kaisa.

[wendy_rosberg]

Lewis young?
Kimi was younger when he entered the F1.
Fernando was younger and also Jenson was younger when he entered the F1.
I really think that Lewis is talented enough. I saw him racing in the GP2 this year and it really was amazing how he was driving. The way he was overtaking the other and the way he was driving his car was amazing.
Yes he needs time, his first season will be a learning season.
Just like Nico had this season. Lewis will have to learn a lot. But he can only learn the racing while he is racing. not by just testing the car. There's a big difference by just testing the car and competing in races.
There's also a big difference between the GP2 and the F1. I realise that. I saw that pretty well with Nico this year.

i really don't think that the team should decide already after one race. The learning process will need to be during several drivers. A driver can't learn everything about racing in the F1 in just one year.

Well we will see how the boy will do it. Oh don't get me wrong. I really don't expect that he would win races or even defeat Fernando. That's not going to happen. that would be very nice, I kind of just hope it. But I know it won't happen. this will only be a year for him to learn it.
Well one of the things i like so much of Lewis is his shyness. He immidiately said that racing wouldn't be easy at all and that it would be a huge challenge.

I really think and well fear, that Mclaren will first have to get their car together and get it reliable. because since 2000 Mclaren doesn't has a very reliable car.

About Mika. Yeah I also heard that he maybe will advise Mclaren. I also think it's a good thing. Well we will see if he can help the team and get the car more reliable. That would be very nice.
(just as long it won't make Alonso win the championship again, because Kimi will need to do that, hihi)

Well in 3 months, 3 weeks and 1 day we will see how Lewis will do it.
i just think he will have to learn it all. But I have faith in him.
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Motorracing is a sickness the only way to get over it is to die!

The Unofficial Nico Rosberg Fanclub website is online now. Feel free to join us to support Nico.
www.nicorosbergfanclub.com

[LadyFinn]

Great to have Alonso and Hamilton at the team McLaren!

[vlad]

Excellent news!!!

McL now needs to make a decent car that can match Ferrari and they can fight for the title. Ok, it's to early, but, I don't see anyone but Kimi and Fernando fighting for the title.

I really have a good feeling about Lewis for long time now. Let's see!
Vlad

[kaisa]

Hallo!

The differences between Fernanda or Kimi and Lewis is: they didn`t start F1 in a top team, which really, really needs to win the to titles. They had their learning year in a smaller team without such a hig pressure and excpectations. I wish that also Lewis could have this, because if he can not handle the pressure and have the sucess everybody excpects from him, his carrier will be over before it has started. But we will see how much races he will drive next year.

Kaisa.

[Naapuri]

wendy_rosberg wrote:

Oh I will have 4 drivers to support now next season Nico, Heikki, Kimi and Lewis Oh next season will be one hell of a season

Soon you'll be supporting all 11 teams and 22 drivers

Well, I'm happy with these news, too
(Also about the end of those rumours about Mika)
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[bine]

Hi!

Hmmm....I kept my fingers crossed for Pedro but unfortunately the drcision is not for him.......but I am just happy that he is in the team and mcLaren knows how important Pedro is for the team, not only as a driver but also as a big teamplayer!

Now sth about Lewis: we know that McLaren supports Lewis for many years. I for my self have to admit that I don`t really know him. Yes, I know how he looks like but I will have to get to know him, I really do not have a picture of him and his driving.
I miss the continuity at McLaren a bit. Fernando is new and now also Lewis.....

And we will have to wait and see, if it is perhaps a bit too early for him in a top team, because it will be his first F1 season.....

Bine
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[K29]

Welcome to Lewis to the McLaren's F1 Team !

I hope that Ron Dennis will have a double charged gun to fight on the tracks on 2007 with Lewis & Fernando...

K29
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[TheFinn]

My warmest welcome to Lewis Hamilton in our team! Let's hope it was the best decision for the team's good!

[wendy_rosberg]

bine wrote:

Hi! Hmmm....I kept my fingers crossed for Pedro but unfortunately the drcision is not for him.......but I am just happy that he is in the team and mcLaren knows how important Pedro is for the team, not only as a driver but also as a big teamplayer! Now sth about Lewis: we know that McLaren supports Lewis for many years. I for my self have to admit that I don`t really know him. Yes, I know how he looks like but I will have to get to know him, I really do not have a picture of him and his driving. I miss the continuity at McLaren a bit. Fernando is new and now also Lewis..... And we will have to wait and see, if it is perhaps a bit too early for him in a top team, because it will be his first F1 season..... Bine

Want me to tell you a little about Lewis
I can tell you some things about him.
i'm following for some years now.
And I really can say that he's a very nice guy and a great talented driver.
Well Mclaren is already supporting him with his career for 9 years now.
And he has won quite a lot of races.
_________________
Motorracing is a sickness the only way to get over it is to die!

The Unofficial Nico Rosberg Fanclub website is online now. Feel free to join us to support Nico.
www.nicorosbergfanclub.com

[TheFinn]

I just hope he'll do the best for Mclaren! They know best...