Heikki Kovalainen

2
Team: McLaren-Mercedes
Age: 27
Debut: Australia '07
Starts: 51
Wins: 1
Poles: 1
Fastest laps: 2
'08 position: 7th

He needs to find a better way of making the car work for him than he did last year when his flowing early turn-in/early on the gas style was not well-suited to the aggressively agile car. Chances are, the team will have followed that path again, as it perfectly suits the style of Hamilton.

Nevertheless this is a critical season for the Finn who claims to be coming into 2009 fitter, stronger and more confident after a year learning the McLaren way. Now he must take the opportunity to help unlock the potential of the MP4-24 and make himself invaluable to the team.