P1racenews AI automatic summary:
After a tension-filled debut F1 season alongside Fernando Alonso at McLaren, Lewis Hamilton was given a new team-mate on this day in 2007.
Eighteen years ago on 14 December 2007, Heikki Kovalainen was announced as Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate at McLaren, taking over from Fernando Alonso who left amidst a turbulent season for the team. Alonso’s strained relationship with McLaren culminated in his early departure, opening the door for Kovalainen’s promotion from Renault. Kovalainen expressed his excitement to join McLaren upon the announcement, praising the team’s dedication to winning. Despite a promising start in 2008, highlighted by his victory in Hungary, Kovalainen struggled to consistently match Hamilton’s performance, finishing the season with a significant points gap between them.
As the 2009 season unfolded, Kovalainen’s limitations became more apparent amidst McLaren’s technical struggles. Hamilton’s ability to excel in challenging conditions underscored the disparity in performance between the two drivers. Kovalainen’s lack of podium finishes and frequent on-track issues contrasted starkly with Hamilton’s resurgence and strong finishes in the latter part of the season. By the end of 2009, it was evident that McLaren had made the decision to replace Kovalainen with Jenson Button for the following season.
