Hamilton testing with McLaren at Silverstone today

I hope he has an absolutely fantastic testing experience at Silverstone today and that he in fact gets the McLaren seat and Ron Dennis says no number one on the team and no team orders except for just don't take each other out. Lewis will shine over FA. It all makes sense with articles I've read of late where Ron says he'll be out of F1 in about 5 years, this is the opportunity for his shining star.

* * * * * * * *
Lewis Hamilton will join McLaren for testing at Silverstone today, as the team begins evaluating whether to hand him a 2007 race drive.

The GP2 champion will be given a two-day run at the British track, alongside Pedro de la Rosa, ahead of what is expected to be a more thorough outing at Jerez next month.

Should Hamilton impress in the tests, and maintain the momentum that helped him grab the GP2 title at Monza, then he could be confirmed as Fernando Alonso's teammate before Christmas.

Although McLaren have been under pressure to consider Hamilton for a race drive, the youngster is well aware that he must shine in testing if he is to get that chance straightaway.

Should the team feel that he would be better off having another year of preparation, then he could become a McLaren test driver for a season before getting a race chance in 2008.

McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh does not hold back in his belief that Hamilton is a special talent though.

"He has done a great job and he has done everything we have asked of him in each championship he has been in," he said. "Just look at the results of the championship. His pedigree is fantastic and I am sure we will all witness him racing in F1 in the years to come."

Go Lewis ! !

Carol

 

one day delay . . .

Lewis Hamilton will have to wait another 24 hours to get his testing programme with McLaren under way, autosport.com can reveal, with the team changing their plans on Tuesday morning.

The GP2 champion was due to begin a two-day test for McLaren at Silverstone today as the team evaluate whether to hand him a race seat in 2007.

But a mixture of damp track conditions, and the late arrival of new Mercedes-Benz engines from their Brixworth factory, has resulted in McLaren delaying the start of their test.

The team will now only conduct a shakedown at Silverstone today, with Hamilton due to complete just three single lap runs.

This will ensure the team does not go over the 50-kilometre limit that leaves their running classified as a shakedown.

Hamilton will then begin his two-days of running alongside Pedro de la Rosa from tomorrow.

McLaren are reluctant to start testing later on today because they only have four days of their 36-day in-season testing limit left.

They plan to test for two days at Silverstone this week and then two days at Jerez after the Japanese Grand Prix - which Hamilton is also scheduled to do.

 

Hamilton topped de la Rosa in testing. There was a great interview with Lewis on Autosport - here' the first part - he is most certainly happy . . .

How does it feel to be wearing McLaren overalls?

Lewis Hamilton: "I am going to sleep in it, I think! I have a new suit today, but yesterday I wanted to sleep in it, but it smelt. I did some straight-line work in an old suit and some filming in someone else's suit, but now I have my own suit with my name on it.

"It is difficult to describe. I am just so pleased I am here. I remember sitting and watching David Coulthard in his early days with McLaren, when I was about 10 or 11, and now I am here and I am 21. It is my dream. It is quite emotional.

"It has been a long, hard journey. I started racing when I was eight years old, and met Ron Dennis when I won the British championship in 1995 at the Autosport Awards. When I was 10 years old, I went up to him and said: 'I would like to drive your car one day.' And here I am."

********

I hope when McLaren makes their decision by Christmas that Lewis is in the "other" seat at McLaren. I really think he's a better driver/person than Alonso. IMO, Lewis is the replacement for MS.

Carol

 

Wish we had the ability to receive some of the neat shows you get! ! ! . . . and you are correct - could be interesting - could even be more interesting if Nico was in a different car.

Carol