Lewis Will Find New Team-Mate A Challenge, Insists Button

Lewis Hamilton will not get an easy ride from new McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen next year, according to Briton Jenson Button.

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"I'm sure [Kovalainen] is not interested in just finishing a few races in front, I'm sure he wants to go for the title,"; said the Honda Driver. "He won't hold back just because he's got Lewis as a team-mate. I think it's good for both of them."

Kovalainen signed for McLaren last week in what amounted to a straight swap with double world champion Fernando Alonso, who rejoined Renault after a difficult seat at the Mercedes powered Formula One team. Hamilton is expected to lead the team's 2008 challenge after winning four races and finishing overall runner-up by a single point to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

Kovalainen had a patchier debut season with former champions Renault, looking ragged in his first race but eventually outperforming experienced team mate Giancarlo Fisichella.

"He's a great guy and deserves to stay in a team," said Button of the Finn. "Having him not racing in F1 would be wrong." Kovalainen has said he expects equal treatment to Hamilton."

"One thing that I wanted to establish before signing was that I'd be treated equally", he said.

I think we can fight on the track as much as we can but off the track we can laugh about it."

December 18th, 2007
Source: Metro Sport

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