My 2009 driver line up prediction is doing well. I expect not much to change and McLaren are the first to agree with me 
. Martin Whitmarsh to Autosport:
“We welcomed Heikki on board at the start of the year. He is under contract to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, and will continue to race for us in the 2009 season.”
After having as many as 8 different drivers racing for them since 2004 season it looks like Ron Dennis and co. are finally happy with the line up they have.
It is an interesting timing for this announcement – just ahead Hungarian GP. This was the race where 2007 McLaren team mates Hamilton and Alonso damaged their relationship beyond repair …
I wonder whether McLaren decided to keep Heikki despite or because of his performances this year. Luck or bad luck, driving such a car as McLaren is this year one should be higher than 6th in the standings, 13 points behind Nick Heidfeld … McLaren however can relax knowing that Heikki would not stand in Hamilton’s way …
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Well, maybe finding replacement for Heiki is a bit riskier than keeping him. There’s short of proven talent compared to him this season..He’s an okay driver- for a second driver that is..
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he may be better than No 2 but his choice is either number 2 in McLaren with shot at podium here and there and perhaps an odd win, or number one somewhere else deep in the midfield … I do not think he is happy with the way things are but there is nothing better for him anywhere else so he keeps his mouth shut as much as he can and complies.
I agree with that assessment. I think Kovalainen is capable of more than what he has shown in his “suppoting” number 2 role at McLaren. Kovalainen is in my opinion one of the better drivers out there, and I’m sure he’s not happy with the circumstances though with his limited options is willing to accept it and hope he gets a break.
But the only way I see Kovalainen as a championship contender is if he early in a season builds a huge lead to Hamilton, and so become McLarens only hope for the drivers championship. But I don’t see that happening.