Formula One news

Haug: Vacant seat at McLaren

Mercedes' Norbert Haug has not made a secret out of the fact that McLaren is searching for a new driver in 2010. The Woking team claims that it is on the lookout for a 'hungry, motivated and focused' team-mate to partner former World Champion Lewis Hamilton.

With question marks over Heikki Kovalainen's position within McLaren-Mercedes ahead of 2010, a number of drivers have been linked to the outfit - names such as Kimi Räikkönen, Nico Rosberg and new Champion Jenson Button.

"Kimi is an option, but there are lots of options around," Haug, the Vice President for Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, told Autosport. "One thing is for sure, though - guys who are out for money are not the right ones for us, whoever it may be; I won't name anyone, but we want to have full commitment from someone who is success-oriented and not someone who is saying, 'I am a big name, pay me a lot of money and I will drive for you.'

"The team has to be convinced that a driver is hungry, motivated, focused and that his first thought is not to get more money. We have shown our level of competitiveness - Lewis has scored race wins and podiums and beaten the guys that have been going for the title this year.

"It shows that we are going in the right direction; we have stabilised this year and we have a seat to offer in a race-winning car - there are probably three, four or five teams, maximum, that can offer that."

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